Pak shells five posts in Poonch

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 31

Four days after the Dinanagar attack and killing of a soldier in sniper fire in the Krishna Ghati (KG) sector along the Line of Control in Poonch district on July 29, Pakistan troops used automatic weapons’ fire and rained mortars on five Indian posts in the same sector last night.

Indian soldiers retaliated in equal measure and the intermittent gun duel went on throughout the night before guns fell silent on both sides.

However, there was no loss of life or injury to the Indian troopers in the latest skirmish.

Two BSF jawans were killed in similar incidents along the LoC in the Kashmir valley in recent times.

“Pakistan troops, in another truce violation, rained mortars on Indian posts in the KG sector of Poonch district on Thursday evening. From 6.15 pm till 7.50 pm, Pak used small arms fire and then from 8 pm to 8.20 pm they fired 82 mm mortar shells on five of our posts. We also retaliated in equal measure and targeted six of their posts - Fatima, Badr, Billi, Roza, Peer and Pimple posts,” said defence sources.

The troops of the 651 Mujahid Regiment on these posts had initiated the first fire drawing troops of 22 Sikh Regiment to retaliate in equal measure, they added.

A defence spokesperson said Pakistan troops fired 82 mm mortars and the Indian troops retaliated with 81 mm mortars. “After trading mortar fire, exchange of small arms fire ended late in the night,” he added.

An Intelligence source, however, said that intermittent fight went on throughout the night. This was the third ceasefire violation in less than 24 hours.

There have been 18 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in July so far. Since July 15, Pak troops and Rangers have been regularly opening sniper fire and heavy fire on Indian posts and forward villages.

Meanwhile, the BSF opened preventive fire along the international border in the Samba sector after they noticed suspicious movement. “Last night, the BSF personnel observed some suspicious movement near the Khora post and fired three to four rounds to prevent possible attempts of infiltration,” said a BSF source.