JAMMU – Hours ahead of the ninth anniversary of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on November 26, 2003, the Krishna Ghati sector of the Line of Control in Poonch district was rocked by heavy exchange of fire between the troops of the two countries though, mercifully, there was no casualty, defense sources said.
“Pakistan troops opened medium and heavy machine gun fire on 10 Indian forward posts along LoC in Krishnagati sub-sector of Poonch district last night,” PRO, Defense, S N Acharya, told reporters on Monday.
He said Pakistani Rangers fired over 6,000 rounds from 1940 hours to 2345 hours last night. “It was the heaviest firing by Pakistani troops on Indian posts this year,” he said, adding the army troops guarding the LoC in the area retaliated resulting in exchange of firing for over four hours.
Mercifully, reports said, there was no loss of life or damage to property in the firing. However, due to the Pakistani firing, the nearby forests were set on fire which the army, with local help, brought under control this morning, defense sources claimed.
They said Pakistani Rangers had violated the ceasefire along the international border and LoC several times this year. On November 20, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by firing in Gulpur forward area along LoC in Poonch sector.
Earlier, on October 1, Pakistani troops had fired at Indian posts and Chachwal forward village along International Border in Samba sector of Jammu region in which a couple was injured.
This was followed by another ceasefire violation when on October 19, Pakistani troops fired on several Indian posts in Krishnagati sub-sector of Poonch district. They had also fired on forward belts of Goutrian and Mankote in Poonch sector two days earlier.
On October 30, Pak Rangers fired with small arms on Indian post of Pindi in Arnia sub-sector of Jammu district along the international border.
The latest episode of firing between Indian and Pakistani troops caused panic in the local population. However, senior administration and police officials visited the spot and reassured the people. (Agencies)
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