5 BSF jawans wounded in Poonch firing; Infiltration from Akhnoor

Jammu, Aug 26 (UNI) At least five Border Security Force personnel were injured today in fire-fighting with a group of militants attempting to infiltrate into Indian side of Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

''Five BSF jawans were injured in firing along LoC in Sabzian area of Poonch district, when the post came under firing from across the border,'' BSF officials told UNI.

Army spokesman at Northern Command confirmed the Poonch firing but maintained that the incident was ''not a ceasefire violation''.

Meanwhile, a group of three to four militants have reportedly carried out a successful infiltration by cutting the barbed fences on International Border (IB) in Kanachak area of Akhnoor sector, sources said.

BSF authorities have yet not given any statement on the incident while the reports said the infiltration has taken place from Kanhachak.

The BSF sources, however, alleged that the ultras were pushed into the Indian Territory under the cover firing and involvement of Pak troops, in giving cover fire to the infiltrators, cannot be ruled out.

Since January this year, Pakistani troops have violated the five-year old ceasefire agreement 31 times, provoking the Indian troops, though the latter did not retaliate on most occasions.

UNI VBH GL DS1408