Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Pakistan army today again resorted to firing on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in two sectors of Poonch district, drawing retaliation from Indian soldiers, a Defence spokesperson said.
“Around 1540 hours today, Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms along LoC in Kirni and Shahpur sectors,” the spokesperson said, adding the Indian Army retaliated befittingly.
Cross-border shelling between the two sides was going on at some places when last reports were received, officials said.
However, there was no immediate report of any casualty.
Fear has gripped villagers along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts as Pakistan army was regularly shelling civilians locations in Shahpur, Kirni, Digwar, Mankote, Mendhar and other sectors of Poonch and Nowshera and Sunderbani in Rajouri.
The Indian Army has retaliated effectively causing heavy casualties and damage on Pakistan side.
A civilian was killed in Poonch district few days back while there has been no loss of security forces though the Pakistan army was continuously targeting forward posts with a view to facilitate infiltration attempt by the militants.
There have been reports that Pakistan has kept large number of militants at terror launch pads located close to the LoC with a view to push militants into Jammu and Kashmir. However, the alert Indian troops have successfully thwarted all such designs of the enemy troops.
Meanwhile, police today provided protection and encouraged the villagers to work in their fields to cut standing crops along the International Border in Jammu as the people were hesitant to go to the IB for fear of Pakistan shelling and firing as is being done on the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Police teams from several police stations on the International Border of Jammu met the border dwellers and encouraged them to go to the fields for cutting crops by providing them security covers.
Apart from security, police also provided meals to the people when they were working in their fields at Abdullian and surrounding villages of RS Pura sector.
The people at many places were reluctant to cut the crops on Zero Line of the International Border as they feared that frustrated Pakistan which has suffered heavy casualties on the LoC could target the innocent civilians on the IB.
While at some of the places, the people started cutting the crops on Zero Line at some other places, they were still hesitant to do so.