Ratcheting up tensions along the line of Control (loC) in Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistani Army on Wednesday opened up a new front and rained 120 mm and 82 mm mortars on several civilian pockets in Sunderbani, Nowshera sectors of Rajori, Pallanwala in Akhnoor and KG sector of Poonch to trigger large scale migration of civilians.
More than 30 forward Indian posts located in Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch sectors have been targeted by the Pakistan Army with long-range weapons to provoke strong Indian retaliation in the last four days. So far over one dozen incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported along the loC in the last 72 hours across Jammu province.
Meanwhile, BSF Director General KK Sharma also visited Jammu frontier and took stock of the operational preparedness on the International Border and along the loC. IG BSF, Jammu frontier, DK Upadhyay gave a comprehensive briefing to the DG , BSF.
Field commanders from Jammu frontier also attended the high-level meeting with the DG,BSF and apprised him about the prevailing security scenario in their areas of operation.
As there has been no let up from the Pakistani side to scale down the hostilities the Indian Army on Wednesday advised the villagers in these areas to relocate to safer locations as they fear border skirmishes to peak in the coming days. Majority of forward areas were already vacated by villagers in worst-hit areas, but in some pockets, villagers were staying back to look after their standing crops and livestock.
In the face of increasing hostilities pressure is also mounting at the diplomatic level to severe diplomatic ties with Pakistan but the Indian Government is yet to take a final call on whether to go ahead or not.
Meanwhile, unabated use of long-range mortars to target the civilian areas has forced the Indian Army to beef up its defences ahead of planning strong retaliation to silence the roaring Pakistani guns.
So far the Indian Army has been able to target certain strategic assets of the Pakistan Army and notorious posts set up near the loC to help infiltrators. Pakistan is also targeting some of the key installations located on the Indian side to avenge the surgical strikes. More than 20 shops in Sawjian and few vehicles were hit by Pak shelling in Poonch.
Defence PRO in Jammu stated, "Unprovoked firing from Pakistan was reported in Pallanwalla, Sunderbani, Nowshera and KG Sector of Poonch at different intervals on Wednesday."
He said heavy shelling was reported in Pallanwalla, Sunderbani and KG sector since Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day a local journalist identified as Shakti Sharma from Rajori was injured near Kalal village while covering the migration of villagers.
Defence PRO said, "Pak Army is using heavy calibre weapons including 120 mm ,82 mm and 60 mm mortars to target the civilian areas across Rajori and Poonch sector. He added Indian Army is responding appropriately using similar calibre of weapons."