Woman injured in firing along Poonch

Latest ceasfire breach comes after 4 months

A 50-year-old woman was injured on Sunday when the Pakistan army violated the ceasefire and targeted Indian posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector.

“Kasim Jan (50), a resident of Shahpur village, was injured when she was hit by the splinters of a mortar shell fired from across the border this morning,” a police officer said.

She was evacuated and immediately shifted to the district hospital in Poonch where her condition is said to be stable, he said.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said the Pakistan army resorted to heavy mortar, small arm and automatic weapon fire in the sector since 3 am. “Our troops responded appropriately and no casualties or damage to our troops was reported,” he said.

Army sources said that around 3 am, the Pakistan army’s Doda battalion fired small arms and mortars from their Dhakni-Dhok, Nezapir and Mocho Mohra posts, and then later at 5 am, the Banwat battalion of the army also began firing at the Indian outposts.

Sunday’s ceasefire violation comes nearly four months after a similar incident on April 10 in the Poonch sector. Last year, 16 civilians were killed and 71 injured in 405 incidents of cross-border firing by Pakistan, the officer said.

While 253 incidents of ceasefire violations took place along the International Border, 152 incidents were reported along the LoC, he said.