Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 5: While an uneasy calm prevailed along the International Border in Arnia sector today with no firing or shelling reported by Pakistani Rangers, the people refrained to take to fields or move out of the houses even as children and some women stayed put in safer areas like Government schools but the Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Balnoi and Sona Gali areas of Mendhar sector this morning targeting forward posts of the Army and civilian areas.
Official sources and eyewitnesses told the Excelsior that Pakistan Army opened firing on forward Indian positions and civilian areas at Balnoi and Sona Gali in Mendhar sector of Poonch district by resorting to heavy firing and mortar shelling at 7 am today when the people had just woke up and started visiting their fields.
Fresh from the memory of a young girl’s killing and injuries to four others in Sabjian sector in Pakistan shelling a day before, the people rushed towards their houses and took shelter in safer areas including bunkers. Army retaliated effectively to silence the Pakistani guns, which had been pounding 81mm mortar shells and bullets with automatic and semi automatic weapons.
Shelling from Pakistan side stopped around 8.30 am but small arms firing continued till 11.30 am.
According to sources, sound of heavy shelling was heard in more than five kilometers area along the LoC in Balnoi, Sona Gali and surrounding villages sending a wave of fear and panic among the villagers, who were already afraid of working in their fields after the killing of a teen-ager.
Few houses in the forward areas suffered damage after being hit by splinters or mortar shells and bullet but there were no reports of any casualties or damage on the Indian side.
Sources said nearly 10 posts of Army were targeted by the Rangers in the firing and shelling but effective reply by the troops silence the enemy guns. Army too didn’t suffer any casualties or damage. Yesterday, an Army jawan was killed and another injured in an IED blast at Balnoi in Mendhar sector. The IED blast was reportedly triggered from across the LoC.
Meanwhile, on the IB front, the guns remained silent in Arnia sector today after heavy shelling and firing on the intervening night of October 3 and 4 in which several houses were damaged, cattle killed and two civilians injured.
However, people in several forward villages including Kaku-De-Kothe and surroundings in Arnia sector were putting up at Government Higher Secondary School, Bishnah and Nirankari Bhawan at Pindi. The people were afraid the Pakistani Rangers could resort to heavy firing and shelling once Eid celebrations are over.
Meanwhile, electricity wires at Kaku-De-Kothe, which were snapped in Pakistan shelling were repaired today, sources said. However, they added extensive damage has been caused to the crops in the shelling and people were not ready to take to the fields fearing that the Rangers could resort to firing and shelling anytime.
This was 10th ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army and Rangers on the LoC and IB this month.
On October 3, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire four times by shelling forward areas and villages along LoC and International Border in Gulmarg sector of Kashmir Valley and Poonch and Jammu sectors in Jammu region in which a girl was killed and six persons were injured.
On October 1 and 2, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire two times along the LoC in Poonch district resulting in injuries to six persons and damage to some houses.
On October 2, Pakistani troops had targeted border hamlets in forward areas along the LoC in Poonch district by shelling them with mortar bombs and firing resulting in injuries to six civilians.
There have been over 100 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control in recent months.
Meanwhile, an Army official today said the militant outfits based in Pakistan want to disrupt the upcoming Assembly polls, whenever they are held, by “desperately” trying to push their cadre into the Indian side to carry out terror activities, an Army official has said.
“They want to disrupt the Assembly elections in the State-whether they are held by the end of this year or middle of next year as they know that a large number of their cadre has already been eliminated. So to reinforce their numbers, they are desperately trying to infiltrate more people into the State,” he said.
Due to the unprecedented floods in the State, which has caused massive damage to the infrastructure, there was speculation in the political circles that the Assembly elections could be postponed from due dates of November-December to April-May.
He said frequent ceasefire violations by militant outfits along the Line of Control and International Border showed that they wanted to reinforce their numbers in the Valley before the polls are held.
“In view of the Assembly elections, the militant leadership from across the border want to push in large number of terrorists into our side, that is why there has been an increase in the number of ceasefire violations,” he said.
The Army official said militants are desperate to infiltrate before snowfall in the higher reaches during winter season closes all mountainous passes, making it difficult for them to pass into our territory.
“There is a presence of robust counter infiltration grid on the LoC and the snowfall during the upcoming winter would close the mountainous passes, thus making infiltration more difficult.
“Militants are desperate to infiltrate before these passes close, hence the increase in the incidents of cross border firing,” he said.
He also noted that another reason for such attempts by militants could be that their outfits in the Valley are devoid of a leader.
“On specific information and surgical operations carried out with the help of local police we have successfully eliminated a large number of terrorists in the Valley. Some of the militant outfits have been rendered leaderless, so to fill in the gap they want to push in more terrorists into our side,” he said.
According to intelligence sources, a large number of terrorist training camps across the LoC are still active and out of 40 militant launching pads on the other side of the LoC, 24 were made operational.
“The terrorist outfits continue to get support from the Pakistan Army as without the support and knowledge of the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani Rangers, it is not possible to carry out such attempts,” a senior intelligence officer said.
“Strict vigil is being maintained along the border and counter infiltration measures have been adopted by the Army. The counter infiltration grid has been further strengthened. Infiltration attempts however continue to take place,” the Army official said.
He, however, said that in the hinterland, militant are being successfully targeted and eliminated. “In the month of September we eliminated 14 terrorists and arrested six others,” he said.
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