Tension again escalates on LoC
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 17: Further escalating tensions on the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan army continued firing for fourth day today in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district using heavy fire arms besides mortars and rockets.
Tomorrow’s weekly cross-LoC bus service on Poonch-Rawlakote route has been suspended while trade for four days next week was also doubtful. Pakistan authorities had refused to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh cross-LoC point due to firing during last two days of trade previous week forcing traders of this side to call back their trucks from the zero line.
Meanwhile, additional troops have been moved to forward posts of Krishna Ghati sector from Mendhar to counter that heavy firing by Pakistani troops, which left two more Army soldiers injured-one during last night and another one today morning.
Official sources said Pakistan army resorted to heavy firing in Krishna Ghati sector from 10 pm to 12.30 am last night and 5.30 am to 10.30 am today. Pakistan Army used mortars, rockets, Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), heavy machine guns and other automatic fire arms in targeting Indian posts.
“We are trying to de-escalate tensions on the LoC. We called for even a flag meeting but Pakistan army refused. When out jawans were getting killed or injured, we were left with no option but to retaliated firing. However, our actions are very controlled but effective. We have been compelled to act to silence the Pakistani guns”, sources said.
Two Army jawans, who were injured in the firing, have been identified as Sepoy Kundan Singh and Raj Mohan Singh. While Kundan has sustained gun shots in his right hand, Raj Mohan was injured in the shoulder. Both of them have been evacuated from the site of firing and admitted in the Military Hospital. Their condition was stated to be stable.
Prior to this, one Army jawan was killed and three others were injured in firing by the Pakistani troops in the same sector.
Sources admitted that more troops have been deployed in Krishna Ghati sector but described this as a “routine process”.
Pakistani troops had started heavy firing on Indian positions in Krishna Ghati sector on June 13 and continued it till June 14. There was no firing on June 15. However, Pakistani troops resumed firing last night and continued it till this afternoon, violating ceasefire agreement of November 2002.
Besides firing at the LoC, Pakistan authorities had also refused to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh on Thursday and Friday, two last days of four days weekly trade, in view of firing leading to return of the trucks sent from this side by the traders on Poonch-Rawlakote route.
The weekly cross-LoC bus service, which operates between Poonch and Rawlakote every Monday, has also been suspended for tomorrow following no response from PoK authorities at Chakan-Da-Bagh. In such a scenario, sources said, an uncertainty loomed large over cross-LoC trade of next week.
According to sources, Pakistan authorities had been claiming that their troops have suffered at least four casualties while some civilians have been injured in the forward areas in retaliatory firing by the troops from this side.
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