Pakistani troops have targeted Indian forward posts with small arms and automatic weapons along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Indian forces to retaliate.
“Pakistani troops opened unprovoked firing from small arms and automatic weapons at our forward posts in Bhimbher Gali sub-sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir around 2230 hours yesterday,” PRO Defence Lt Col Manish Mehta said.
The Indian Army troops took positions and responded with equal calibre weapons to Pakistan’s firing which resulted in intermittent exchanges of fire, he said.
“There was no loss of life or damage to property in the firing on this side of LoC,” Lt Col Mehta said.
Ceasefire violation
It was second ceasefire violation by Pakistan this month.
The ceasefire violation and firing by Pakistan comes barely hours after handing over of captured 30-year-old BSF constable Satyasheel Yadav to Border Security Force (BSF) officials by the commanders of the Pakistan Rangers yesterday at the zero line at Octroi border post along the International Border in R S Pura sector of Jammu district.
On August 6, Yadav, along with seven other personnel, was on a routine motorboat patrol on Chenab river when its engine suddenly failed and the boat was caught in the main current of Chenab and started drifting downstream towards Pakistan.
While six personnel managed to swim to safety and another one was saved by a rescue boat, Yadav got drifted in the strong current and he subsequently landed 400 metres away in the Sialkot sector of Pakistan.
At the flag meeting between Battalion Commandants of BSF and Pakistan Rangers at Octerio BoP in R S Pura sector of Jammu district, both sides made a commitment to uphold peace and tranquillity on the border and extend all cooperation to each other in dealing with emergent incidents in a proactive and positive manner.
On August 5, Pakistani troops had targeted Indian forward posts with small arms and automatic weapons along the LoC in Sher Shakti forward belt of Poonch district.