Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: Army today foiled an infiltration attempt by the militants along Tarkundi Nullah in Kanga forest area of Balakote sector of Poonch district even as Pakistan Army violated ceasefire, reportedly with a view to give cover to the militants.
Pakistan Army opened firing in Balakote and Bhimber Gali sector at 4.30 am today. The Indian side retaliated. Exchange of firing lasted till 6.30 am, official sources said.
Army spokesman Col R K Palta said the Indian side retaliated after Pakistani troops opened firing on Indian positions in early hours of this morning. “There were no casualties or damage on the Indian side in Pakistan firing,” he added.
Reliable sources, however, said that a group of militants tried to infiltrate inside the Indian territory from Tarkundi Nullah in Kanga forests of Balakote taking cover of Pakistan firing. However, troops thwarted the infiltration bid. The militants retreated to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Meanwhile, Army and Police have defused about 60 unexploded mortar and rocket shells fired by Pakistan Rangers during the ceasefire violation along the International Border (IB) in Jammu frontier.
Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) of the Army Engineers and police have safely defused about 50 to 60 unexploded shells fired from Pakistan along IB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts during the last fortnight, sources said.
Pakistan Rangers had shelled border villages and Border Outposts (BoPs) with hundreds of 61 mm and 82 mm mortars bombs and rocket shells besides thousand of rounds of firing by Light Machine Guns (LMGs) and automatic weapons since October 14.
Several bombs and rocket shells did not explode as they had sunk into the earth, the officials said, adding that these were later defused by the police and the Army.
Two bombs, which apparently had been fired earlier and were lying around for some time, exploded today near the border fencing along the IB, triggering panic among the residents.
The blasts took place near Border Out Posts (BoPs) — Beli Azmat and Gole Pattan — along the IB in Kanachak sector but no casualty has been reported, sources said.
“Two blind bombs, which may have been fired earlier and lying there for some time, have exploded in the fields near two BoPs in Kanachak belt today,” sources said.
They added that there could be some more mortar shells and rockets lying unexploded along the border areas. Security forces and police would continue searches for them and defuse them.
Police have also asked not to touch any live shell if spotted by them. They have asked the villagers to inform security forces or police if they spot the shell so that it was defused safely.
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