Pak violates ceasefire again, fires 7,000 rounds of ammunition at Indian posts

Four days after five Indian soldiers were killed at the Line of Control by the Pakistani troops in Poonch district, Pakistan violated ceasefire again.

Zee Media Bureau

Jammu: Four days after five Indian soldiers were killed by the Pakistani troops along the Line of Control in Poonch district, Pakistan on Friday night violated ceasefire again by firing 7,000 rounds of heavy ammunition and mortar shells for seven hours at Indian posts. The Indian Army has termed the fresh incident as the "biggest ceasefire violation" in recent times. There was no loss of life in the firing from across the border to which the Indian Army fired back effectively. "Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along LoC in Durga Battalion area in Poonch district around 2220 hours late last night", Defence spokesman SN Acharya said on Saturday. "They fired 7,000 rounds of heavy weaponry Pika ammunition and medium mortars targeting several Indian posts in order to cause heavy causalities till 0430 hours," the spokesman said, adding that it was "biggest ceasefire violation". Army troops guarding the borderline took positions and fired back effectively, he said, adding that troops also fired 4,595 rounds of Medium Machine Guns (MMGs), INSAS rifles and KPWT Machine guns besides 111 RPGs, 11 rockets and 18 mortar shells of 81 mm in retaliatory action. There was no loss of life in the firing from across the border, the spokesman said, adding tension is prevailing along the borderline. The sound of heavy firing and mortar blasts was heard in Poonch town and the firing exchanges triggered panic among the people living in the area. The tension between India and Pakistan heightened when a group of 20 heavily-armed men led by Pakistani troops shot dead five Indian soldiers in Chakan Da Bagh sector of Poonch, 400 metres inside Indian territory, on August 06. Four of the dead Indian soldiers belonged to 21 Bihar Regiment and one to 14 Maratha Light Infantry. Defence Minister AK Antony had blamed the Pakistan Army for the "brutal" act and also warned that the incident will have "consequences" on India`s behaviour on the Line of Control and on relations with Pakistan. "It is now clear that the specialist troops of Pakistan Army were involved in this attack when a group from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) side crossed the LoC and killed our brave jawans," he had said. Taking a hard position, Antony had told Parliament that the "brutal and unprovoked" attack on Indian side of the LoC in Poonch sector "outraged us all" and "naturally, this incident will have consequences on our behaviour on the LoC and for our relations with Pakistan." Sending out a message to Pakistan, he said, "Our restraint should not be taken for granted; nor should the capacity of our armed forces and resolve of the Government to uphold the sanctity of LoC ever be doubted." Antony had said, "Those in Pakistan who are responsible for this tragedy and the brutal killing of two soldiers earlier this year should not go unpunished." "Pakistan should also show determined action to dismantle terrorists networks, organisations and infrastructure and show tangible movement on bringing those responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attack in November 2008 to justice quickly," he had said. (With Agency inputs)