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Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice today by firing mortar shells, rockets and automatic weapons on forward Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district, drawing retaliation from the Indian side.
The fresh ceasefire violations come a day after Pakistan troops violated the border truce thrice.
“Pakistani Army opened indiscriminate and unprovoked firing on forward posts along LoC in Bhambir Gali sub-sector in Poonch sector around 0715 hours”, Defence Spokesman Col R K Palta said.
Pakistani Army fired from small and automatic weapons besides firing medium mortars on the forward posts and civilian areas, he said.
Indian troops guarding the borderline used similar calibre weapons and retaliated strongly triggering fierce exchanges, which were on when reports last came in.
In Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch district, Pakistani troops targeted Indian positions along LoC and opened unprovoked firing around 0300 hours, Col Palta said, adding India troops retaliated effectively resulting in exchanges, which ceased around 0600 hours.
“There was no loss of life or injury caused to anyone among the troops on this side in Pakistani firing”, Col Palta said.
Pakistan Army’s firing and shelling, which started last night in Tarkundi forward areas and also civilian areas, continued throughout the night and was going on when reports last came in from the area, reports said.
A boy identified as Mohmmad Khalil had received splinter injuries in the firing in Chitti Bakri forward area last evening, a police officer said. He was hospitalised.
Pakistani troops had yesterday fired on Indian posts in Poonch forwrd areas along LoC around 0700 hours and it continued till 0740 hours without any casualty.
They had also fired on forward Indian posts with small arms and automatic weapons along the LoC in Balakote area around 7.10 PM last night, the Defence Spokesperson said adding the exchanges between two sides continued till 10.30 PM without any casualty.
Pakistani troops have been daily resorting to ceasefire violations since August 6 when its special forces killed five Indian soldiers in Poonch.
There have been over 80 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops this year from January 1.
Defence Minister A K Antony had recently stated that the Army has been given a free hand to retaliate to deal with violations on the LoC.
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