Pak breaches truce 10th time in a month

Violating the ceasefire for the tenth time this month, Pakistani troops continued to pound Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and heavy firing on Indian forward posts along LoC in Balnoie sub-sector of Poonch around 8.00 am.

He said the troops guarding the border retaliated effectively to counter Pakistan shelling and firing which led to heavy exchange of firing. There was no casualty on the Indian side till reports last came in from the area.

Since October 1, Pakistan has violated ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch seven times and thrice it violated the truce on International Border (IB) in Jammu.

There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops on LoC and IB since the beginning of this month. On Friday, a girl was killed and six people injured in Pakistan army firing in Sabjian area of the LoC in Poonch district.

Reports said that latest shelling by the Pakistani troops has triggered panic among the border residents, who fear that the latest hostility between the two armies may force them to leave their homes once again.

Reports said nearly 3,000 people in forward areas along the LoC and IB have migrated to safer places and taken shelter in government schools anticipating that shelling could continue for more days.

This is the second time in less than two months that the people on the border had to leave their houses due to Pakistan shelling and firing. In August, they had to migrate under similar circumstances as Pakistan had resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Arnia and RS Pura sectors along the IB.