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

#Army major, BSF head constable injured in unprovoked firing

11/01/2019

JAMMU, Jan 10: An Army major and a BSF head constable were injured as Pakistani troops on Thursday again resorted to unprovoked firing on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
Identifying the injured as Army Major Yadvendra and BSF head constable Mumtaz Ali, sources said that they were deployed in Bhimber Gali area. Both were evacuated to hospital and their condition was stated to be stable.
Pointing out that it was the eighth incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan during the last three days and second during Thursday, sources said that troops across the LoC suddenly started firing from small arms in BG sector in the afternoon. Earlier in the morning, they resorted to small arms fire and mortar shelling in Digwar area, sources said.
The Indian army retaliated at both the places and firing from Pakistan side stopped after some time, they added.
On Wednesday also, Pakistani troops had resorted to small arms fire and mortar shelling in Poonch district's Gulpur area and Rajouri district's Nowshera sector. The firing from across the LOC was retaliated by the Indian army strongly and effectively.
There had been an over 2,900 instances of ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, the highest in the last 15 years. At least 61 people were killed and over 250 were injured in the ceasefire violations last year.
The Northern Army Commander Lt General Ranbir Singh had on Monday visited forward posts in Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to review operational preparedness of the troops and the prevailing security situation. Talking to the troops, the commander had reinforced the need to be prepared for effectively meeting the emerging security challenges, besides exhorting all ranks to remain vigilant to counter the nefarious designs of the enemy and anti-national elements.
The year 2018 witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations 2,936 by Pakistan troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. "The Pakistani army resorted to firing and shelling on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch sector 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 seven of first 10 days of the new year.
The Pakistani army fired on forward posts along the LoCPoonch 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.

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