Representational picture (Reuters)
Ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control continued for the fifth day today with firing and shelling targeting scores of Indian posts and civilian areas in three districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch. The Army has opened retaliatory fire.
Officials have said the latest escalation by Pakistan is aimed at helping militants to infiltrate from across the border ahead of Independence Day to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
There have been four ceasefire violations in three sectors of Krishnagati, Bhimbhergali and Pallanwala in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts overnight and a total of seven such violations since yesterday, they said.
Troops guarding the LoC retaliated resulting in exchanges, Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said, adding there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing.
Pakistan troops resorted to small arms firing intermittently on forward posts along LoC in KG, BG and Pallanwala sectors of Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts between 8 pm yesterday and 5 am this morning, he said.
There have been 26 violations of the 2003 ceasefire in August this year and the ongoing violations are in the fifth consecutive day.
In July, there were 19 ceasefire violations in which four persons, including three jawans, were killed and 14 others injured.
"Pakistan violated ceasefire 192 times along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir till July 26 this year," the government had told Lok Sabha.
Yesterday, Pakistani troops targeted Army posts and civilian areas with automatic weapons, mortar bombs and rockets in Sabzian-Mandi and Poonch sectors.
A youth was killed and two others, including a BSF jawan, were injured when Pakistani troops had targeted border outposts and hamlets along the International Border in four sectors of Kanachak, Pargwal, Tawi and RS Pura in Jammu district on August 4.
Three civilians and a jawan were injured in violations on August 7 and 8.