Pak violates ceasefire along LoC as Shinde visits J&K

Zee Media Bureau

Jammu: Pakistan troops resorted to heavy shelling at Indian positions in the Poonch sector on Tuesday afternoon even as Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde arrived in the state to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, the fresh firing from the Pakistan side started around 12.30 pm and continued for an hour in the Bhimber Gali sector in Poonch after which the army retaliated. Firing from the Pakistan side was also reported in Hamirpur. The Pakistan troops had targeted the Indian positions in RS Pura sector of the international border in Jammu district late last night. As per reports, Pakistan troops used 82 millimetre mortars and other heavy weaponry to target Indian positions in Nikkowal and Abdullian areas of RS Pura sector late on Monday. "The firing started at 9.45 p.m. Monday. We have retaliated strongly to Pakistan shelling. Firing exchanges continued till early morning Tuesday in these areas," a senior BSF officer said. In view of repeated ceasefire violations from across the border along the Line of Control (LoC), Union Home Minister Shinde today visited Jammu and Kashmir to assess the security situation here. Shinde reviewed the security situation in Samba sector and met the BSF personnel posted at the International Border. Addressing the BSF jawans at a press conference, the Home Minister said that he was here to promise that the government stands by the soldiers fighting the enemies and safeguarding the border. “The whole country stands by you,” Shinde said. Shinde landed at the technical area of Jammu airport in the morning along with Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, other senior Home Ministry officials and Subhash Joshi, Director General (DG) of paramilitary border security force (BSF). High tension has gripped residents of border villages as Pakistan rangers have been frequently violating the bilateral ceasefire signed by the two countries in November 2003. Many villagers close to the Line of Control (LoC) have already left their homes for safer places as they accused Pakistan troops of targeting their homes during trans-border shelling. With Agency inputs