Peace prevailing along the line of Control (loC) in frontier Poonch District of Jammu province was once again shattered by the Pakistan Army in wee hours of Sunday after it started pounding several forward Indian posts and civilians areas using heavy calibre of weapons.
Panic stricken local villagers ran for cover to escape the heavy shelling from the Pak istan’s side as they came in the direct line of fire.
The ‘unprovoked’ firing on the civilian pockets, was responded to by the Indian troops effectively.
The foot soldiers of the Indian Army were maintaining tight vigil in the area to foil any major infiltration bid by heavily armed militants in the run up to the Independence day celebrations.
A 50-year-old woman identified as Qasam Jhan of Kasba Village was critically injured in the firing. Eyewitnesses claimed she was hit by splinters of mortar shells, while hiding in her house following the heavy exchange of firing between the two sides. local villagers escorted her to safety and later shifted her to a nearby hospital with help from Army troops.
The firing continued for several hours. At least six forward villages namely Shahpur, Kasba and Gautrian were targeted by the Pakistani Army.
According to official sources, Pakistani Army initially fired medium machine guns(MMG) and later graduated to using Mortar shells to escalate the tensions.
This is the first major incident of ceasefire violation in the area after a gap of four months and comes on a day Pakistan celebrated its Independence day.
The customary exchange of sweet packets between the officers of two neighbouring Armies also could not take place following fresh tensions in the area.
Defence spokesman in Jammu lt-Col Manish Mehta said, "Pakistani Army resorted to 'unprovoked firing in the forward areas of Poonch since early Sunday morning".
Pakistani Army had earlier violated ceasefire agreement days after peace talks were suspended between the two neighbouring countries on April 10 this year.
The 'unprovoked' firing was reported close on the heels of a suspected militant attack in the heart of Poonch city where a group of Budha Amarnath bound pilgrims were targeted on late Saturday night in the base camp.
At least 18 civilians including nine pilgrims were injured in the suspected grenade blast ahead of the 70th Independence Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, Pak rangers exchanged sweet packets with their BSF counterparts along the International border in Samba, Arnia and RS Pura sectors of Jammu frontier to mark their Independence day celebrations.