Diwali of gunfire as Pakistani troops violate ceasefire again

After a brief lull of three days, Pakistan on Wednesday again resorted to firing from across the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir in yet another act of ceasefire violation.

“Pakistan Rangers resorted to small arms firing at Narainpur BoP along IB in Ramgarh sector of Samba district at around 1030 hours,” said Ramgarh Station House Officer Satesh Kumar.

Confirming the ceasefire violation, a Border Security Force spokesman said that Indian troops had retaliated to the Pakistani firing in brief exchanges. “There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing,” the spokesman added.

The latest ceasefire violation comes 72 hours after the last instance of firing from across the border by the neighbouring country’s troops on the night of October 19 in Pargwal sector of Jammu district.

Pakistani troops had also violated the ceasefire on October 18 and 17 by resorting to firing on BoPs in the Makwal and Allah mahi Da Kothay areas of Jammu district.

Before that, the ceasefire was violated twice on October 17 along the Line of Control in Hamirpur sector of Poonch district. Ceasefire violations also took place on October 16 night.

In firing from across the LoC in the Saujian-Kirni-Shahpur belts of Poonch on October 15, a seven-year-old boy, Riyaz of Kuiyian Gotirian village, was injured.

The IB and LoC in Jammu region have witnessed heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops since October 1 which has left nine persons dead and over 95 injured, including 13 security men.

Around 30,000 people have fled their homes to avoid the shelling, leaving 113 hamlets deserted in the border areas.