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2 women injured as Pak troops fire at Indian posts in Poonch sector

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Aug 22, IRNA -- Two women were injured Thursday in indiscriminate firing by Pakistani troops in Kerni area along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector in fresh ceasefire violations, drawing retaliation from Indian troops.

Pakistan Army troops opened fire with small and automatic weapons on forward posts in Poonch today at around 1205 hours IST (Indian Standard Time), pti quoted defence spokesman Col RK Palta as saying in Jummu.

'The firing from across the border prompted Indian troops to retaliate, leading to intermittent exchanges which were on when reports last came in,' he said.

12-year-old Hassana and 32-year-old Noor Jahan sustained injuries in the firing by Pakistani troops.

Pakistani forces fired on Indian forward areas in Kerni-I and Kerni-II in Poonch sector, the third ceasefire violation since yesterday in the district.

'Pakistan Army had last night twice violated ceasefire by firing mortar shells at LoC posts in separate sub-sectors of Poonch district, drawing retaliation from Indian troops,' Palta said.

He said that firing on several Indian posts in Hamirpur sub-sector along the LoC started at 2130 hours IST last night.

'Troops from across the LoC opened fire with automatic weapons and medium mortar shells,' he said.

Palta added that our troops retaliated effectively and the exchanges continued till 2230 hrs IST.

'Pakistan troops had also fired at Indian posts in the Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch at around 2230 hours. The firing there continued till 2300hrs,' Palta said.

'The 2003 Indo-Pak ceasefire has become meaningless. There is daily firing these days as was witnessed before 2003,' said a senior security official.

The 225-km long LoC in the Poonch-Rajouri sector has been witness to daily violations of the ceasefire since August 10, adding up to 28 incidents so far this month.

There have been over 80 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops this year from January 1.

Defence Minister A K Antony had recently stated that the Army has been given a free hand to retaliate to deal with violations on the Line of Control.

Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has also asked his commanders to be aggressive in case of ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army.

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