Fresh ceasefire violation; mortar shelling, exchanges on

Poonch (J&K), Aug 19: Pakistani troops opened heavy fire on Hamirpur and Balakote border belts along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and also pounded civilian areas of Mankote and Mendhar belts here, an Army official said today.

"There was yet another firing by Pakistan Army along Hamirpur and Balakote border belts along the LoC in Poonch from last night," Defence Spokeman S N Acharya said today. They fired mortars, RPGs and automatic weapons and Indian troops retaliated strongly, resulting in exchanges which, after continuing throughout the night, were going on intermittently till this morning.

Reports from the area say that Pakistani troops also pounded civilian areas with medium mortar shells and rockets, triggering panic among border dwellers in the two border belts. "There was no report of loss of life or injury to anyone among troops," Acharya said. Pakistani troops yesterday violated ceasefire along the LoC in Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch district around 2:05pm and it continued till 4:30pm. There have been 15 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in past nine days, Army officials said. 71 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have taken place this year from January 1 to August 19, which is 85 per cent more than those during the same period last year, they said.

PTI