The Pakistan Army on Tuesday escalated tensions along the line of Control (loC) in Jammu division by resorting to ‘unprovoked’ firing and hitting the civilian pockets using long range mortar shells for the second consecutive day.
The line of Control between Akhnoor, Nowshera and Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch was activated by the Pakistani Army triggering panic among the residents of border area.
Unconfirmed reports claimed one Indian soldier was also injured in the heavy exchange of fire in Pallanwala area of Akhnoor sector late Tuesday evening but defence sources denied these reports.
Majority of forward villages in the Akhnoor sector wore deserted look as villagers had migrated to safer places following intense shelling in the area.
Most of the religious places have been locked down by the care takers before moving to safer places.
The district administration in Jammu had decided to throw open schools in the area on Tuesday but even those who were staying in the forward areas were forced to shift to safer places.
According to local villagers of Kalsian in Nowshera sector, “Pak army fired long range mortars and used automatic weapons to target the forward Indian villages in the area past midnight”. SDM Nowshera Harban lal Sharma said, “heavy shelling was reported in the area in the wee hours. He said we are keeping a close watch on the pattern of shelling and if required we will immediately shift the local residents to safer places.
However, due to heavy shelling in the first half of the day most of the villagers in the area could not step out of their houses for fear of getting hurt and those working in their fields remained stranded there for long hours.
According to Defence PRO in Jammu, “Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation at three locations in Naushera sector from 5 am Tuesday.
“They used small arms, automatics and mortars,” he said, adding that Indian troops are responding appropriately.
No casualty or damage to property has been reported on the Indian side till reports last came in, he added.
The second round of firing started around 1.35 p.m in Akhnoor sector and continued till the time of filing the report.
Meanwhile fresh exchange of firing resumed across Nowshera sector in Rajori and Krishna Ghati in Poonch around 5.00 p.m. Firing across KG Sector continued till 8.00 p.m while intermittent exchange of fire was going on in Nowshera sector, Defence PRO confirmed to The Pioneer.
In Poonch majority of border residents resisted attempts made by the district administration to shift them to safer places. The villagers in the forward areas declined to step out of their houses and those who had constructed bunkers in their houses decided to stay put there to escape the Pak shelling. The situation along the International Border was relatively better. Despite tension in the area large number of villagers have started returning to their homes in the first half of the day and going back to safer locations in the evening.