A belligerent Pakistan Army on Thursday greeted India with bullets on the occasion of its 67th Independence Day celebrations. At least three Indian jawans and two civilians were injured during the 11th ceasefire violation in a row in the last five days.
The heavy exchange of fire started at various places along the line of Control (loC) in Poonch early morning. Several forward villages were also hit by mortar shells fired from across the loC, spreading panic in the area.
According to officiating Defence spokesman, Jammu, SN Acharya, “Pakistan Army began unprovoked firing at Indian forward posts in Mendhar sector at 06.30 am.”
“Our troops retaliated immediately with heavy caliber weapons,” he said, adding that the firing was on till late in the afternoon.late on Wednesday BSF jawans in Krishna Ghati sector had repulsed an attack by the Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan Army after observing the movement of the heavily-armed group in the surveillance grid.
According to BSF sources, a group of five to six heavily-armed members of BAT had breached the loC and had come close to Kranti 1 post in the KG sector. After BSF jawans challenged them and opened fire on them they retreated towards the Pakistani side of the border.
The BAT members were provided cover fire by Pakistani troops from Roza and Daku posts, official sources said.The Indian Army is worried as Pakistani troops are regularly targeting civilian areas in Poonch to spread panic among them. On Thursday two civilians were injured after 82 mm mortars landed in forward villages of Mankote area in Mendhar tehsil.
According to official sources, the shell of an 82-mm mortar fired by Pakistani troops fell in Mankote area resulting in injuries to one civilian.A rocket fired by Pakistani troops fell and exploded on a cowshed in Basonia village of Mendhar on Thursday afternoon resulting in the death of a dozen cows.