Pakistani troops target forward posts and civilian areas with 120 mm mortar bombs and automatic weapons; five civilians suffer injuries, several shops set ablaze
Indian army soldiers arrive outside the base camp which was attacked by terrorists at Baramulla. Pic/AP
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Jammu: Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire four times yesterday by targeting forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Poonch district with 120 mm mortar bombs and opening fire with automatic weapons, drawing retaliation from Indian troops.
Five civilians were injured and several shops set ablaze in the firing and shelling.
Pakistan shelled posts along the LoC in Shahpur, Krishnagati, Mandi and Sabzian sectors of Poonch district. “Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Mandi and Sabzian sectors of Poonch district from 1345 hours,” Defence Spokesman Col Manish Mehta said.
Appropriately responded to
They fired 120 mm, 80 mm mortar bombs, automatic weapons and small arms, he said, adding the exchanges are going on. Earlier Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Poonch using small arms, automatic and mortar bombs (in Shahpur) in Poonch, he said. “It has appropriately been responded to, we have given them a befitting reply. The ceasefire violation is still on,” he said.
Pakistani troops had earlier briefly opened fire in Krishnagati sector of Poonch district around 01.00 hours, officials said. A Police officer said that one mortar shell landed in a security force camp in Gangrian in Saujian and it hit oil containers resulting in fire.
In the fire several shops were gutted, he said, adding there was no loss of life or injury to any one in the fire.