Pakistan continues firing on LoC and IB

Continuing its violations of the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, Pakistan again resorted to unprovoked firing at another place on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. There were no casualties or damages, officials said.

However, in Pakistani firing along the International Border, ten civilians have been injured in the 24 hours since Monday, said police. These include six people who were wounded when a Pakistan-fired mortar shell exploded in Arnia police station in R.S. Pura sector.

All the injured have been shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital at Jammu for treatment.

Defence spokesman Colonel Manish Mehta told IANS in Jammu, "After violating ceasefire in Balnoi sector, the Pakistan Army again resorted to firing on the LoC at Hamirpur."

"They used mortars and small arms after which our troops retaliated effectively with same calibre weapons," he said.

Hamirpur firing exchanges started at 4.20 p.m.

"No casualty or damage has been reported on our side," the spokesman said.

Pakistan Rangers have been violating ceasefire on the international border in Jammu and Samba districts for the last two days at least at half a dozen places.

Pakistan Rangers resorted to mortar shelling and automatic weapons fire in R.S. Pura, Akhnoor, Kanachak, Pargwal and Ramgarh sectors of the International Border Tuesday.

More than 20,000 villagers from areas close to the borders in Jammu and Samba districts have abandoned their homes and have been lodged at safer places away from the border.

The army guards the LoC while the BSF guards the International Border in J&K.

BSF Director General D.K. Pathak visited the Akhnoor sector to take stock of the situation and ensure that befitting response is given to Pakistan firing.

Pathak told reporters that BSF has been given clear orders to retaliate "effectively" so that Pakistan's targeting of civilian habitations is stopped.