Pak violates ceasefire in 2 sectors, woman injured

A woman was injured when the Pakistani Army violated ceasefire twice in two sectors of Poonch district by firing mortar shells on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control, prompting Indian troops to retaliate.

Pakistani troops initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 9.20 am on Saturday along the LoC in Krishana Ghati sector, a defence spokesman said.

On Friday at 11 pm, the Pakistani Army violated ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch sector, the spokesman said.

The Indian Army posts were retaliating strongly and effectively and firing was underway in both sectors, he said.

A woman suffered injuries when a mortar shell exploded close to her house in Qasba Shahpur belt in Poonch sector on Saturday, a police officer said, adding that she was hospitalised.

The police said Pakistani troops were targeting residential areas and hamlets with mortar bombs and the shells were landing deep inside the border.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's foreign ministry claimed that two of its villagers were injured in firing by the Indian Army.

On June 1, a civilian was killed and four others, including a Border Security Force jawan, were injured when the Pakistani Army targeted forward areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Pooch districts, prompting retaliation by the Indian troops.

Five Pakistani soldiers were reported to have been killed and some other injured in Indian Army's retaliatory action along the Nowshera and Krishnagati sectors.

Entire top brass of the Indian Army headed by the Army chief and seven commanders, including all corps commanders of Jammu and Kashmir, held a meeting in Srinagar to review the situation in hinterland and borders on the same day.