After a brief lull, Pakistani troops on Saturday violated ceasefire again along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing retaliation from Indian troops.
Reports said the Pakistani Army violated ceasefire in the Shahpur Kerni sector of the LoC in Poonch around 12:45 pm, which continued for several hours. The Indian Army retaliated, resulting in exchanges. However, no loss of life in the firing was reported.
There was no report of ceasefire violation along the 198-km International Border (IB) in Jammu, though. The last instance of firing by Pakistan troops along the IB was reported on Thursday evening, when its Rangers targeted four BSF border outposts in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.
A senior BSF official told Deccan Herald thatthere was complete calm all along the IB in the Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts for the second day on Saturday.
“The BSF has strengthened presence along the IB, notwithstanding temporary halt in the shelling and firing, and is ready to retaliate against any fresh ceasefire violations from the Pakistan side,” he said. Very heavy and effective retaliation by the BSF in the past few days, in which Pakistan suffered large-scale casualties, forced them not to resume shelling and firing from the last two days.
Over the past 11 days of shelling along the IB and the LoC, eight civilians, including five women, have been killed and more than 85 people, including Army and BSF personnel, were injured. Huge loss of property, including houses, shops, cattle sheds and other structures, have also been reported.
