Srinagar, MaY 24: The Pakistani army on Sunday violated the border ceasefire and fired indiscriminately on eight Indian forward posts at Krishna Ghati sector on the line of control (LoC) in Poonch, Jammu region.
Jawan SP Chakaranaryan was injured, while Pakistan claimed a soldier was killed, in the firing that continued for several hours.
The incident occurred at 9am when troops in the Krishna Ghati sector came under heavy fire from across the LoC. Small arms firing was followed by rockets and mortar bombs.
Defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Biplab Nath said in Jammu: “The firing was totally unprovoked and without any rhyme or reason.”
Brigadier Gurdeep Singh, brigadier general staff at the 16 Corps headquarters in Jammu, said Pakistani troops fired around 20 rockets and four mortar bombs on Indian posts. “The firing was on till 12.40 pm. One of our boys suffered injuries in the incident. His condition is stable. We will lodge a strong protest against this incident,” he said. The Indian army retaliated, army sources said.
The ceasefire violation is the second in the sector in the last 22 days.
On May 1, Pakistani troops fired at Indian forward posts, using small arms and rocket propelled grenades, in which Border Security Force (BSF) constable Ramesh C was wounded.
Four days back, two soldiers were killed and three were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling, came under hostile fire at Nandi-Takri in Krishan Ghati sector along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu.
The latest clash came as signs of an Indo-Pakistan thaw were becoming more visible, with both sides trading accusations about who started the fight.
The clash reportedly killed a Pakistani soldier.
–Agencies–