1. Home
2. Jammu

Pak violates ceasefire in Poonch: Army

Anubhav Misri. Dated: 1/10/2019 11:50:41 AM

India, Pak trade fire in Rajouri

POONCH, Jan 9: Pakistan army for second consecutive day on Wednesday violated ceasefire targetting forward Indian posts and civilian areas in Gulpur sector of Poonch district.
Defence PRO Lt Col Devender Anand, while confirming the ceasefire violation, said, “Today at about 0900 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by small arms fire and also shelling with heavy caliber weapons in Gulpur, Poonch sector of J&K.” He stated that Indian army also retaliated strongly and effectively.
Later in the afternoon, Pakistani troops also resorted to small arms firing in Rajouri district’s Nowshera sector. The Indian troops retaliated there also.
Official sources in Poonch said that Pakistan army violated ceasefire and targetted civilian areas and forward Indian posts in Gulpur sector of Haveli tehsil in Poonch district.
Mohammed Shakeel a resident of Gulpur said, “Early this morning, Pak army opened fire targetting village and forward Indian posts. We woke up hearing sounds of mortars and bullets. Many mortars landed in our village. Two bullets even hit our house.” He said, “We were frightened with the intensity of shelling. We asked all members of the family to move to safer place.”
Displaying the splinters spread in the house, he added, “My children are so frightened that they are not stepping out of the house even now although the firing from across the border has stopped.”
Local defence sources said this morning at around 08.25 AM, the troops of 41 Baloch of Pak army opened unprovoked fire on civilian areas and Indian forward posts along LoC in Gulpur sector.
“They targetted civilian areas and Indian forward posts Cheeta and Sasur from their forward posts Bakri Main, Bakri third and LP Right. Indian troops of 15 MLI guarding Indian forward posts retaliated and gave a befitting reply to the enemy. The exchange of fire continued till 08.55 AM,” they said.
A senior police officer said, “There was exchange of fire with small arms and mortars this morning between two sides. However, there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing.”
The villagers however claimed that the firing from across the border lasted for nearly three hours with mortar shells falling in the fields. However, no casualty or damage to property was reported on the Indian side.
Later in the afternoon, Pakistani troops also resorted to small arms firing in Rajouri district’s Nowshera sector. The Indian troops retaliated.
The latest ceasefire violations by Pakistan have come two days after Northern Army commander Lt General Ranbir Singh along with General Officer Commanding of White Knight Corps Lt General Paramjit Singh had visited forward posts in Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to review operational preparedness of the troops and the prevailing security situation.
Pakistan has been increasingly violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India. It has resorted to firing and shelling along LoC five times in the past seven days, including on Tuesday. Also, the year 2018 witnessed the highest 2,936 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in the past 15 years.
During the past one week, Pakistani troops have targeted forward posts in Mankote, Khadi Karmara, Gulpur areas without any causality.