Shattering peace prevailing along the Line of Control (LoC) in frontier Poonch district, Pakistan Army on Thursday violated ceasefire agreement, after a gap of more than two weeks, by targeting civilian areas in Shahpur, Kirni sectors.
After the suspension of cross LoC trade, from two crossing points of Chakan-da-bagh in Poonch and Salamabad in Uri on April 18, 2019, this is for the first time the neighbouring armies exchanged heavy fire along the Line of control in the region.
According to ground reports, Pakistan army targeted several civilian areas with mortar shells triggering panic among the local residents.
Official sources in Poonch told The Pioneer, "at least two shells landed on the roof top of a temporary house of Mohd Aslam Pathan in Kirni area of Poonch. No one was injured in the area, official sources said.
According to Ministry of Defence spokesman in Jammu, Lt Col Devender Anand, " Pakistan army resorted to ceasefire violation in Shahpur,Kirni sectors of Poonch district around 9.30 a.m" .Intermittent firing continued in the area till late afternoon.
Defence spokesman said, "Pakistan army initiated 'unprovoked' ceasefire violation by resorting to small arms firing and later it started shelling with mortars. "Hitting back, using similar calibre of weapons, the Indian army retaliated strongly and effectively", Defence Spokesman said in a written statement.
Unconfirmed field reports from across the line of control also claimed, " Pakistani side had suffered heavy damages in strong retaliatory action from the Indian side".
Taking advantage of the cloudy weather conditions in the forward areas, Pakistan army may have provided cover fire to the group of infiltrating terrorists in the area. Till the time of filing the report there was no official confirmation with regard to any infiltration bid attempted from across the line of control. Meanwhile, jawans of the Indian army continue to remain in a state of high alert to thwart any nefarious designs of Pakistan army, desperately trying to carry out BAT strike inside the Indian territory.