Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: Tension gripped forward villages of Balakote sector in Poonch district as Pakistan Army pounded forward positions of troops and civilian areas with mortars while exchange of firing between the two sides continued since last evening in Balakote and Mendhar forward positions even as Army officials of India and Pakistan exchanged sweets at Chakan-Da-Bagh zero line and Hot Spring at Mendhar on the occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan.
However, there was no exchange of sweets between BSF and Rangers at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura in view of continued firing by the Rangers in Arnia sector, which has, however, stopped since yesterday.
Official sources said Pakistan Army fired mortar shells in forward areas of Tarkundi, Panjani and Tekri in Balakote sector of Poonch district at about 5 pm today. Pakistan Army targeted forward Indian position and civilians areas, Several shells landed in the villages but there were no casualties or damage on the Indian side as the civil population had already gone inside the houses or the bunkers to survive.
Sources said the shelling from Pakistan side continued till 6.30 pm and was appropriately replied by the Indian side.
Due to explosion of mortar shells, some portion of forests in Balakote sector caught fire.
Prior to the shelling, Pakistan Army violated ceasefire and resorted to heavy firing in several forward areas of Balakote sector last night from 9 pm to 2 am and Mendhar sector from 11 pm to 1 am. Again in the morning, firing took place in both the sectors from 9 am to 12 noon.
Sources said Pakistan Army didn’t refrain from firing even when they were celebrating their Independence Day today. At all the places, the Indian Army gave appropriate response to the firing, they added.
Meanwhile, amidst exchange of firing in Balakote and Mendhar, Army officials of India and Pakistan exchanged sweets and fruits at Chakan-Da-Bagh zero line in Poonch district on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day.
Indian side in the exchange of sweets was represented by Col Himmat Singh of Krishna Ghati Brigade while Lt Col Hillal-ul-Haq came from the Pakistan side. The brief function started at 10.15 am and lasted just half an hour. Both sides exchanged sweets and fruits and dispersed.
A similar function at Chakan-Da-Bagh is expected to take place tomorrow on the occasion of India’s Independence Day.
However, sources said, the BSF and Rangers didn’t exchange sweets on the International Border (IB) at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector in view of tension prevailing on the borders especially Arnia sector, where BSF jawans and civilians were injured in firing by the Rangers and there was massive damage to civilian property in shelling and firing.
No incident of firing or shelling was reported along the International Border in Arnia sector or anywhere else since yesterday morning, sources said.
Army and BSF were maintaining high alert along the LoC and IB respectively anticipating infiltration of militants under the cover of Pakistan firing to disturb Independence Day celebrations, sources said.
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