Pakistan again violates ceasefire, India retaliates

After a brief lull, Pakistan on Saturday violated ceasefire twice along International Border and Line of Control in Poonch and Jammu district, drawing strong retaliation from India.

"Flat trajectory weaponry fire came at 2010 hours in our area of Operation in 3 Border Out Posts along International Border in Arnia sector of Jammu district tonight," BSF Spokesman said.

He said that BSF troops retaliated and intermittent fire of small arms continued from both the sides till late in the night.

Earlier in the day, Pak troops resorted to firing on forward Indian posts along LoC in Banwat sector of Poonch district from 1300 hours, a senior Army officer said.

Ceasefire violation in Shahpur, Kerani Sector, started at 12:40 pm. Indian troops guarding the border promptly retaliated resulting in heavy exchange of fire which were underway till late Saturday night when last reports came from the area, he said. There was no loss of life on our side, the officer said.

The last instance of firing by Pakistan along the 192km International Border was when its Rangers targeted four BSF Border Out Posts in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district for 20 minutes on Thursday night.

The IB has witnessed heavy firing from October 1-9 that has left eight persons dead and 90 people injured, including 13 securitymen.

Besides over 32,000 people have fled from their border homes leaving 113 hamlets deserted along the IB.

India and Pakistan troops traded heavy fire along the IB on the intervening night of October 7 and 8 after Pakistan Rangers shelled almost the entire IB by targeting 60 Border Out Posts and over 130 border hamlets in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts of J&K, in which 15 people including 3 BSF jawans were injured.

There has been over three dozen ceasefire violations along the IB since October 1.