Pak shells forward posts in Poonch, villager injured

JAMMU :Continuing with ceasefire violations, Pakistani troops today targeted Indian forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.
After firing on forward areas of Shahpur and Kerni along the LoC apart from forward posts late this afternoon, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy mortar shelling, police officers said.
One of the shells landed in Kayiam village near the house of Mohammad Sharief in which his son Mohammed Showkat was injured and ten goats were killed, they said adding, he was admitted to a hospital in Poonch.
Mortar shelling was reported from Sher Shakti, Kerni, Bandi Chachian and Shahpur areas along the LoC triggering panic among people. Unconfirmed reports said, Pakistan also briefly resorted to intermittent artillery shelling.
Earlier, defence spokesman, S N Acharya said Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and opened unprovoked firing on Indian posts in Doda battalion forward area of Poonch district at around 0930 hours today.
Pakistan fired mortar shells at around 1230 hours today, he said.
Indian troops fired back, Acharya said adding, there was no loss of life or damage to property in the sub-sector.
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire twice yesterday by firing in Balakote and Mendhar sub-sectors after a lull of three days, drawing effective retaliation.
Guns had fallen silent after Pakistani troops fired on Indian positions in Pallanwala sub-sector in Jammu district on August 29. (AGENCIES)