The line of Control (loC) between India and Pakistan is set to witness another round of escalation in the wake of alleged killing of at least seven Pakistan soldiers in retaliatory action by the Indian Army in Naushera sector of Rajouri late Sunday night.
This is for the first time Pakistan Army has claimed seven of its soldiers were killed in response to punitive strikes on its forward posts by the Indian Army.
Indian Army, however, maintained there was a brief ceasefire violation initiated by Pakistan in Naushera sector which was effectively retaliated last night. Sources claimed some of the Pakistan posts were decimated in the targeted strikes by the Indian Army.
Heavy fire power was used by the Indian Army to silence the Pakistan guns and may have inflicted extensive damages across the line of Control.
The senior Army officers of Nagrotra based 16 corps headquarters,however, avoided any speculation on the damages suffered by the Pakistan Army in response.
Meanwhile, after a brief lull fresh ceasefire violations were reported from Sunderbani and Palanwala sectors of Jammu region on Monday. Several forward villages in the area were targeted by the Pak army in fresh shelling. Pakistan Army was firing 82 mm mortars and automatic weapons to target the civilian areas and forward Indian posts.
According to Defence PRO lt-Col Munish Mehta, " Pakistan soldiers initiated indiscriminate firing from 14.40 hours on Monday on Indian army posts along the loC in Sunderbani sector". Pakistan Army also trained its guns towards forward areas of Palanwala sector using 82 mm mortars and automatics. Indian army was giving them befitting reply till the time of filing the report.
One civilian was injured in Khour area in the evening as intense shelling triggered fresh wave of terror among the border residents who had returned to their homes and hearths after staying away during Diwali.
The district administration issued fresh advisory to border residents to stay indoors under concrete roof tops to avoid any loss of life. The authorities also cancelled cultural programme and Natrang play on Bawa Jitto at famous Jhiri fair.
The district administration had earlier issued orders to throw open the schools in the border areas but in the wake of fresh shelling the local SDM's have been directed to keep a close watch on the pattern of shelling and take a call to throw open the schools in their areas of jurisdiction depending on local conditions.
According to Deputy Commissioner,Jammu Simrandeep Singh, "67 year old Mangat Ram S/O Sian Dass R/O Sainth Khour was injured in fresh shelling". He received injuries in right ear lobe and left side of chest.
Situation along the International border remained peaceful. Farmers were seen working in their fields as the harvest season is nearing completion. In the absence of farm labourers farmers and big land lords are facing hardships in harvesting their paddy crop ahead of winter showers in the region.