Pak violates ceasefire, targets Indian posts on LoC

Pakistani troops today resorted to mortar shelling and firing on the LoC in Jammu district, the second ceasefire violation in two days ahead of a crucial meeting of the Directors General of Military Operations of the two sides aimed at easing tensions along the ceasefire line.

There was a firing of mortars shells and firing small arms and automatic weapons from across the border on forward Indian Posts in Jourian sub-sector of Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu around 1419 hours, Defence Spokesman S N Acharya said.

The firing and shelling was targeted towards Gigriyal forward belt.

Army troops guarding the border belt gave a calibrated response by resorting to retaliatory firing, he said, adding that firing exchanges continued for for ten minutes.

There was no loss of life or injury to any one in the firing on this side of the border, Acharya said.

It was second incident of ceasefire violation in two days along Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.

BSF officer Sub Inspector Jitender Singh suffered injuries in Pakistani firing along International Border in Manyari forward area in Kathua district around 1.05 PM yesterday.

There was no incident of ceasefire violations since the flag meeting between Pak Rangers and BSF authorities on October 29 after intensified firing and heavy shelling for over a month in which a BSF jawan was killed and 30 others, including 17 civilians, were injured.

The firing and shelling incidents have taken place ahead of the December 24 meeting of the DGMOs of the two nations to discuss ways to prevent ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.