Pak targets 16 Indian posts, ninth violation in four days

Violating the ceasefire for the ninth time in the past four days, Pakistani troops targeted 16 Indian forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir resulting in heavy exchanges.

"Pakistani troops fired on Indian posts along the LoC in Hamirpur-Balakote and Mendhar forward areas in Poonch district on Tuesday night," defence spokesman S N Acharya said .

The troops from across the border fired small arms and automatic weapons besides mortar and RPGs from 9 pm on Tuesday night, the spokesman said.

Indian troops guarding the borderline fired back resulting in heavy exchanges till 11.15 pm, Acharya said, adding there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing from Pakistan. The firing continued intermittently on Wednesday.

Pakistan targeted 16 Indian forward posts in Hamirpur, Balakote and Mankote forward areas in Poonch throughout the night. Pakistan fired at six posts each in Balakote and Hamirpur areas and four in Mankote belt.

Eight posts manned by the troops of 605 Mujahid Regiment troops of the Pakistan army, were involved in the firing on Indian posts. This is the ninth ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the past four days, security official said.

Pakistani Rangers had on Tuesday violated the ceasefire and fired at Narianpur Border Out Post in Ramgarh forward area in Samba district.

Pakistani troops had fired at Indian posts along the LoC in Hamirpur and Balakote forward areas in Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch district at 9.20 pm on Tuesday night. The firing continued till 6 am on Wednesday, Defence Spokesman S N Acharya said.  

Pakistani Rangers had also fired small arms on Kothay Border Out Post along IB in Samba district at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, a Border Security Force officer said.

On August 12, Pakistani troops had opened heavy fire using mortars, rockets and small arms on 11 Indian forward posts along the LoC in Digwar, Mankote and Durga Battalion areas.

On August 11, a BSF jawan was injured in Pakistani firing at Alfa Machial forward Posts along Indo-Pakistan border in Jammu.

Pakistani troops had targeted several Indian Posts by firing 7,000 rounds of heavy ammunition and mortar shells in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 10.

On August 5, Head Constable BSF Ram Niwas Meena of 200th Battalion was injured in sniper firing on Narainpur BoP area in Samba district. Meena, who suffered bullet injury in Chest, died in AIIMS in New Delhi on August 11.

On August 6, a group of 20 heavily armed men led by Pakistani troops had entered 450 metres into the Indian territory in the Poonch sector and ambushed a patrol killing five Indian soldiers.