No fresh ceasefire violation by Pakistan, around 8000 still in camps

JAMMU: Around 8,000 people displaced by firing and mortar shelling by Pakistan are still waiting in camps set up in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, even as no fresh incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan was reported today.

"Nearly 11000 people have so far migrated from the border villages and of them, 8000 have taken shelter in camps set up by the government in safer areas in Kathua and Samba districts," officials said today.

An uneasy calm prevailed along the International Border in Kathua and Samba districts as guns fell silent after Pakistan fired mortar shells and gunshots at over 60 villages and scores of forward posts yesterday.

"There was no firing and shelling from across the border since last night and border is calm", Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said today.

Similarly, there was no firing and shelling in Samba since yesterday.

"The borderline is calm. No reports of any firing is there from across", Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Samba, Anil Magotra said.

Bomb disposal squads have been deployed to defuse the unexploded Pak mortar bombs and so far, two of them have been defused safely, he said.

Pakistan yesterday fired mortar shells and gunshots at over 60 villages and scores of forward posts in Kathua and Samba in continuing ceasefire violations over which it has refused to take protest notes from the Indian side.