Pak troops shell LoC areas in Poonch; ceasefire violated for 3rd consecutive day

Indian troops guarding the border retaliated strongly. Tribune file

Jammu, January 10

The Pakistan army violated ceasefire for the third consecutive day on Thursday, shelling forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district inviting a strong retaliation from Indian forces, officials said.

The year 2018 witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations–2,936–by Pakistan troops in the past 15 years along the Indo-Pak border.

“The Pakistani army resorted to firing and shelling on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch sector on Thursday morning,” officials said, adding there were no casualties or injuries on the Indian side.

Indian troops guarding the border retaliated strongly, he said.

On Wednesday as well, Pakistani troops had fired on and shelled the Kalal forward area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district twice, they said.

The continuous shelling and firing on villages has set in a fear psychosis among the border dwellers.

With the latest incident, Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in Poonch for seven of first 10 days of the New Year.

The Pakistani army fired on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch district on Tuesday as well.

Despite repeated calls, made during Indo-Pak flag meetings, for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, the Indo-Pak border areas witnessed shelling and firing.

The chief of northern command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, had on Monday visited forward areas along the LoC and reviewed security situation in Jammu and Rajouri districts, officials said.

Accompanied by White Knight Corps commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh visited forward posts of Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation, they said. PTI

Pak targets Gulpur, locals run for safety

Residents of the Khari Karmara area in Poonch district look at a shell fired by the Pakistan army on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Our Correspondent
Rajouri, January 9

The Pakistan army again resorted to mortar shelling and firing in the Khari Karmara and Gulpur areas of Poonch district around 9 am on Wednesday.

Around 5 am on Tuesday, Pakistani troops had resorted to heavy unprovoked shelling and firing on India forward posts and forward areas in the Chakan da Bagh area.

“Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation with small arms and also resorted to shelling with heavy-calibre weapons in the Gulpur sector. The firing was retaliated strongly and effectively,” said Lt Col Devender Anand, Defence PRO.

Sources said the shelling created panic among locals as mortar shells landed in fields in civilian areas of Khari Karmara in the Gulpur sector, forcing residents to run for shelter.

Around two or three mortar shells fell near the Sarla post manned by the Maratha Regiment. No loss to life or property was, however, reported from the area, the sources said.

The sources said Indian troops were retaliating effectively to Pakistani shelling and firing.

“The Maratha Regiment has blocked all infiltration routes, especially through the Rangar Nullah. Irked by the move, the Pakistan army for the last few days has been continuously targeting areas manned by the Maratha Regiment,” said the sources.

For the past many days, the Pakistan army has been targeting Indian forward posts in the Gulpur, Khari Karmara, Degwar and Chakan da Bagh areas of Poonch district.