Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 3: Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy fire overnight after Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in four sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) and opened firing on several forward posts in Jammu and Poonch districts.
Army troops guarding the LoC retaliated, resulting in exchange of firing.
“The firing, which started at about 9.40 pm yesterday, continued till 3 am,” official sources said, adding that there were no casualties or damage on the Indian side.
“Pakistani troops continued small arms firing throughout the night on forward posts along the LoC in Krishna Ghati, Balakote, Sabzian-Mandi and Pallanwala sectors and exchanges took place”, sources said, adding the Indian side retaliated very effectively to silence the Pakistani guns.
The firing stopped at 3 am, sources said, adding there was no firing during the day today in any part of the LoC. “Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked small arms firing in forward posts along the LoC in Krishna Ghati, Mandi, Balakote and Pallanwala sectors since 9.30 pm last night”, sources said.
While Krishna Ghati, Balakote and Sabjian-Mandi sectors fall in Poonch district, Pallanwala sector is in Jammu district.
There have been two ceasefire violations on August 1.
Pakistani Rangers had resorted to firing of mortar bombs on border out posts along the International Border in R S Pura sector in Jammu district on Saturday night.
Pakistani Rangers also violated the ceasefire by resorting to small arms firing and mortar shelling on 3 Border Out Posts (BOPs) along the IB in Akhnoor sector in Jammu district yesterday.
There have been 18 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in July in which four persons, including three jawans, were killed and 14 others injured.
Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps (16 Corps headquartered at Nagrota), Lt Gen R R Nimbhorkar today visited the forward locations of Crossed Swords Division in Akhnoor and was briefed on the security dynamics along the LoC and IB.
During his visit, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar was briefed on the security measures along the IB and LoC by Major General Kulpreet Singh, General Officer Commanding, Crossed Swords Division, sources said.
Interacting with the officers and soldiers of the Division, the Corps Commander applauded their efforts in ensuring peace and defence of the country and for placing the call of duty above all while serving on the Line of Control, he said.
Addressing the troops, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar exhorted all ranks to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation, the spokesperson added.
The Corps Commander’s wife Sheela Nimbhorkar, who is the Chairperson of Family Welfare Organisation of the White Knight Corps, also visited the Division and interacted with the soldiers’ families urging them to strive for higher education which would assist them in better grooming of their children.
The function was attended by more than 400 families of the officers and soldiers of the Division, the spokesperson said.
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