STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu/Srinagar: Pakistan troops on Wednesday violated the border ceasefire four times as they resorted to heavy shelling and firing on Indian posts and civilian areas in Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian troops retaliated to the firing which was still on.
“Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in Sunderbani and Krishnagati sectors in Rajouri and Poonch district from 1700 hours and 1730 hours today,” Defence PRO Manish Mehta said.
A senior army officer said ceasefire violations have also taken place in Mendhar sector of Poonch and Macchil sector of Kupwara.
There have been eight ceasefire violations since yesterday along LoC.
Mehta said Pakistan troops shelled mortar bombs and fired from automatic and small weapons.
Indian Army appropriately responded and there were no causalities on this side, he said.
In wake of the increasing violations, BSF has increased deployment of its troops along IB and technical equipment have been reinforced.
“We have increased the deployment (along IB),” BSF Director General K K Sharma said.
Yesterday, Pakistan troops violated ceasefire five times and targeted 10 forward areas with mortar shelling and firing on Indian posts and civilian areas along LoC in Jammu, Poonch and Rajouri districts.
One jawan is reported to have suffered minor injuries in the action by Pakistani troops on Tuesday.
Border dwellers in Kalsian evacuated after heavy shelling
Jammu: Over 1300 people living in the border belt of Kalsian in Noushera area of Rajouri district have been evacuated following heavy shelling by Pakistani troops for several hours on Tuesday.
“We have evacuated Kalsian border belt due to ceasefire violations”, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.
Border dwellers have been evacuated and taken to safer areas, the officer said.
Kalsian, with a population of over 2000 people, is very close to the LoC and faces threat of an attack by Pakistan’s Border Action Team, officials said.
It may be recalled that in August 2000, Army troops foiled a Pakistani plan to capture a post in Noushera sector, killing three Pakistani soldiers.
A group of Pakistani soldiers had intruded into the Indian territory and attempted to capture a forward post in Kalsian area. The Indian soldiers opened fire in which three Pakistani soldiers were killed.
