Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 3: Pakistan army today violated ceasefire and resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling and firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Digwar and Balakote sectors of Poonch district, leading to fresh wave of panic among the civilians living in the forward areas.
Official sources said Pakistan army started heavy firing in all forward villages and Army posts in Digwar sector of Poonch district at 9.30 am today and soon extended the ceasefire violation to Balakote sector of the same district.
Pakistan army used mortars, automatic and semi-automatic weapons in shelling and firing, which was retaliated very effectively by the Indian side, leading to heavy exchanges that lasted till this afternoon.
However, there were no reports of any casualties or major damage on the Indian side in Pakistan shelling and firing but some damage was reported on other side of the Line of Control though exact details were not available immediately.
Several forward posts of the Army and civilian areas were targeted by Pakistan Army at both Digwar and Balakote sectors during shelling and firing, prompting the troops to give an effective response to them.
Several mortar shells fell close to civilian population but exploded harmlessly.
A day before, a Junior Commissioner Officer (JCO) of Army, Naib Subedar S Sanayaima Som had attained martyrdom in Digwar sector in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast.
Sources said Pakistan was trying to create trouble along the LoC once again after peace for sometime by resorting to shelling and firing in the civilian areas. There were inputs that under the cover of firing and shelling, Pakistan army could also attempt to infiltrate militants into the Indian territory.
Troops were maintaining very high alert all along Line of Control in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to thwart intrusion attempts by the militants.
There have been reports with the Intelligence agencies that a large number of militants were waiting across LoC for infiltration into the Indian side but haven’t been able to do so due to strict surveillance being maintained by the troops. Some of the intrusion bids made by the militants in the recent past have been effectively foiled by the troops.
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