Pakistani troops open fire along LoC in Poonch

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi are on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani troops on Tuesday violated ceasefire for the fourth time this month by opening firing on Indian posts along the Line of Control in the Poonch district.

"There was small arms firing on Indian posts in Durga Battalion area along the LoC in Poonch brigade belt around 3:15 pm," Public Relations Officer, Defence, S N Acharya said. He said Indian troops guarding the border took positions and retaliated, resulting in exchange of firing.

The firing exchanges were occurring intermittently when the reports last came in from the area, he said, adding that this was the fourth ceasefire violation this month. There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing, Acharya said.

Dr Singh and Gandhi are on a two-day visit to the state.

Earlier this month, a junior commissioned officer was killed when Pakistan opened heavy fire with automatic weapons and rockets on Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch sector. Pakistani troops had also opened indiscriminate firing in the Poonch sector in which a civilian was injured after an infiltration bid was foiled by Indian troops. They had opened small arms firing on Indian posts in Nangi Tikri forward area along the LoC in Krishnagati.

Last month, Pakistani troops had pounded Indian posts along the LoC in the Poonch sector with rockets. A brigadier and two jawans were injured when Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian positions along the LoC in Tutmari Gali sector in Jammu and Kashmir.