Pak troops fire at Indian posts in Poonch sector, 2 women injured

Jammu: Two women were on Thursday injured in indiscriminate firing by Pakistani troops in Kerni area along the Line of Control in Poonch sector in fresh ceasefire violations, drawing retaliation from Indian troops.

Pakistan Army troops opened fire with small and automatic weapons on forward posts in Poonch today at around 12:00 pm, defence spokesman Col RK Palta said. The firing from across the border prompted Indian troops to retaliate, leading to intermittent exchanges which were on when reports last came in, he said. 12-year-old Hassana and 32-year-old Noor Jahan sustained injuries in the firing by Pakistani troops, Shamsher, SSP Poonch, said. Pakistani forces fired on Indian forward areas in Kerni-I and Kerni-II in Poonch sector, the third ceasefire violation since yesterday in the district. Pakistan Army had last night twice violate ceasefire by firing mortar shells at LoC posts in separate sub-sectors of Poonch district, drawing retaliation from Indian troops, Palta said. Firing on several Indian posts in Hamirpur sub-sector along the LoC started at 9:30 pm last night, he said. Troops from across the LoC opened fire with automatic weapons and medium mortar shells, he said. "Our troops retaliated effectively and the exchanges continued till 10:30 pm," he added. Pakistan troops had also fired at Indian posts in the Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch at around 10:30 pm. The firing there continued till 11:00 pm, Palta said. "The 2003 Indo-Pak ceasefire has become meaningless. There is daily firing these days as was witnessed before 2003," said a senior security official. The 225-km long LoC in the Poonch-Rajouri sector has been witness to daily violations of the ceasefire since August 10, adding up to 28 incidents so far this month. There have been over 80 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops?this year from January 1. Defence Minister A K Antony had recently stated that the Army has been given a free hand to retaliate to deal with violations on the Line of Control. Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has also asked his commanders to be aggressive in case of ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army. PTI