This Article is From Oct 04, 2016

Pakistan Steps Up Ceasefire Violations, 5 Civilians Injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch

Pakistan Steps Up Ceasefire Violations, 5 Civilians Injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch

Since the surgical strikes, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire 10 times

Jammu: Pakistan troops violated the ceasefire at least four times on Monday by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing on Indian Army posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, leaving five civilians injured and several shops ablaze.

Reports said India has taken retaliatory action.

The firing is going on in various areas along the Line of Control, officials said.

Pakistan resorted to firing and shelling in Shahpur, Krishnagati, Mandi and Sabzian sectors in Poonch district, officials said.

"Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Mandi and Sabzian sectors of Poonch district from 1345 hours," Defence spokesman Colonel Manish Mehta said.

They fired 120 mm, 80 mm mortar bombs, automatic weapons and small arms, he said.

Earlier, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Poonch using small arms, automatic and mortar bombs (in Shahpur) in Poonch, the spokesman said.

"It has appropriately been responded to, we have given them befitting reply. The ceasefire violation is still on," he said.

A police officer said the firing started at around 10:45 am and is going on.

Pakistan troops resorted to brief firing in Krishnagati sector of Poonch district around 1 am, officials said.

In shelling, five people were injured in Shahpur Kerni and Saujian sectors, officials said, adding the injured have been hospitalised.

Since the surgical strikes on September 29, there have been 10 ceasefire violations on the border.

Last year, 16 civilians were killed and 71 others injured in 405 incidents of cross-border firing by Pakistan. While 253 incidents of ceasefire violations took place along the International Border (IB), 152 incidents were reported along the Line of Control.

Around 10,000 people were temporarily affected due to the ceasefire violations and had to be shifted to safer locations.
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