Shyam Sood &

Amir Karim Tantray

Poonch, April 10

After a six-month calm, Pakistani troops today opened fire in the Shahpur sector along the LOC (Line of Control) in Poonch district, drawing retaliation from the Indian troops. “The Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Poonch sector at 4.30 am,” Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.“Our troops responded appropriately. There was no casualty or damage to our troops,” he said. Villagers said the exchange of mortar fire started at 10.45 pm last night and continued till 4.30 this morning. At least six houses were partially damaged. An Alto car parked on the road was damaged too.Mohammad Akbar, a resident of Shahpur, said: “ Mortars were fired at our houses and we ran for cover. We remained there till the firing stopped this morning. Live mortar shells are still lying in the fields.”  Sources said the Poonch police had informed the Army about these shells.Fearing that the Pakistani troops may have pushed militants inside Jammu and Kashmir, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police has started search operations in the area. There has been firing on the LOC in Rajouri’s Keri sector and in Doda area of Poonch for the past two days.