Pakistani troops shell LoC posts, jawan injured

Jammu, Aug 7: An army jawan was injured as Pakistani troops opened fire at villages and forward posts in Poonch district along the LoC for the third consecutive day today.

The Sabzian sector of Poonch has been under attack by the troops of the neighbouring country for the last three days, possibly to facilitate infiltration from across the border.

"Pakistan troops resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling, besides RPGs, this morning even as intermittent firing was on overnight on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sabzian area of Poonch district," a defence spokesman said.

Indian forces retaliated resulting in heavy exchange of fire which continued till 3 AM today, he said, adding that an army jawan was injured and has been hospitalised. "Security has been beefed up along the LoC to foil any designs of militants," he said. There have been 15 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in past six days.

Yesterday, Pakistani troops resorted to intermittent firing with automatic weapons, rocket projectile grenades and mortar bombs along the LoC in Poonch district.

On August 5, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice and targeted Indian forward posts and hamlets, in which three civilians including a woman were injured.

A youth was killed and two others, including a BSF jawan, were injured when Pakistani troops had targetted border out posts and hamlets along the International Border in 4 sectors of Kanachak, Pargwal, Tawi and R S Pura in Jammu district on August 4.

On August 2 and 3, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire four times by resorting to small arms firing in forward posts along LoC in Krishnagati, Mandi, Balakote and Pallanwala sectors of Poonch and Jammu districts.

There were two ceasefire violations on August 1. There have been 18 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in July in which four persons, including three jawans, were killed and 14 others injured.

PTI