Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 13: There has been no let up in heavy shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops, which continued last night and early hours of this morning in forward areas of Poonch district. People in the forward villages spent sleepless nights due to unabated firing and shelling from across the Line of Control (LoC).
Official sources said firing by the Pakistani troops continued most of the time last night at Balakote, Mendhar, Sabjian, Mankote and Bhimber Gali sectors in Poonch district. At 4 am today, Pakistan Army again resumed shelling and firing, which ceased at 6 am. However, during the day today, firing was not reported at any place along the LoC in Poonch.
The inside side retaliated the Pakistani firing at all the places. Exchange of firing between the two sides was very intense.
Pakistan Army has been resorting to mortar shelling and heavy firing targeting forward posts of the Indian Army and villages close to the LoC for past four consecutive days. However, there had been no casualties or damage on the Indian side. Pakistan Army had lost its three jawans in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops on Friday at Goi sector opposite Mendhar.
The people continued to spend sleepless nights in forward villages in Balakote and Mendhar sectors due to resumption of shelling by the Pakistani troops since October 10. Pakistan Army had used mortar shells and heavy weaponry in targeting Indian posts and villages in the entire month of August this year. However, in the month of September, only firing was exchanged. It was just four days back that Pakistan Army has resumed shelling on the LoC in Poonch.
Meanwhile, people putting up in forward villages in Balakote and Mendhar sectors, where some population was inhibited ahead of the fencing, spent sleepless nights as splinters of mortar shells had been falling close to their houses.
The people had yesterday apprised the visiting Deputy Commissioner and the SSP Poonch in Mendhar about the problems faced by them in the forward areas due to heavy shelling and firing by the Pakistan Army. Authorities had persuaded the civilians to stay put in the forward areas.
Sources said Pakistan Army was intentionally targeting the forward villages to force migration of civilian population. However, the villagers have braved all odds to stay in their houses and didn’t migrate despite the fact that nearly a dozen civilians have been injured in Pakistani firing since August 5.
Meanwhile, Army has been maintaining high alert along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts following reports that the militants were also trying to take advantage of Pakistan Army’s firing and shelling with a view to infiltrate into this side. Troops were maintaining a strict vigil on the infiltration routes and have not allowed the militants to succeed in their plan.
About 150 militants had been stationed across the LoC by the Pakistan Army and the militant commanders with a view to push them into this side during covering fire of Pakistan Army.
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