Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 6: After a lull of three days, Pakistan Army today again pounded forward posts and civilian areas in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch district using small to medium fire arms and mortar shells. The Indian side gave an effective response to the firing, leading to heavy exchanges for about two hours.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan Army first started firing from their Goga Post opposite Balakote sector targeting three forward Indian posts in Peer Baba area at 4.50 pm. Five to seven mortar shells landed in the area in a span of 20 minutes.
Troops of 637 Mujahideen Regiment of Pakistan deployed across Balakote sector continued firing for about two hours prompting the Indian side to retaliate. The response of Indian Army was very effective, they said.
Simultaneously, Pakistani posts of Dabsi Centre, Dabsi Forward, Dabsi Rear and Cheel under the area of 650 Mujahideen Regiment rained bullet and shells on four forward Indian posts in Poona area falling between Balakote and Mendhar. The Indian side fired back.
Heavy firing lasted till 7 pm. Thereafter, intensity of the firing was reduced and only small fire arms were used from across the LoC. The Indian side also toned down its response.
This was 50th ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri and Jammu sector in the past one month after hostilities between India and Pakistan increased after the killing of five Indian Army jawans in Sarla battalion area at Chakan-Da-Bagh on the intervening nights of August 5 and 6 in Poonch district.
Apart from five Army jawans, a BSF soldier was also killed in Pakistan firing on the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector while nine civilians have been injured in shelling by the Pakistan Army.
Sources said Pakistan Army has also suffered heavy losses in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops.
The last ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army was reported on September 3 at Shahpur and Kerni in Poonch and Kaiyan in Mandi sector in which a civilian was seriously injured in shelling. Twelve goats of the civilian were also killed as a shell had exploded close to his house.
There had been reports that Pakistan Army was also trying to facilitate infiltration of the militants from across the LoC under the cover of firing. Over 150 militants were stated to have moved very close to the launching pads for infiltration into this side but the troops have effectively thwarted their plot.
The militants during past one month have made several infiltration attempts along the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch but haven’t succeeded, sources said, adding the troops were maintaining a very high alert on the LoC to thwart intrusion plans of the militants.
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