Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 17: Pakistan army today again resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing with automatic weapons at Shahpur, Khari Karmara and surrounding villages in Poonch district, leading to very effective retaliation from the Indian side.
Authorities ordered closure of both Government and private educational institutions in shelling hit forward areas of Poonch district and suspended cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route through Chakan-Da-Bagh in view of intense shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops.
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Official sources said Pakistan army violated ceasefire at Khari Karmara, Digwar, Ajot, Shahpur and Kirni areas of Poonch sector at 7.45 am today targeting forward posts of the Army and civilian areas.
Authorities immediately ordered closure of all educational institutions, both Government and private in all forward villages, hit by mortar shelling and firing from Pakistan side while civilians stayed inside their houses and didn’t venture out.
Shelling and firing lasted till 10 am, sources said.
As Khari Karmara, which was hit by shelling, falls close to Chakan-Da-Bagh, authorities also ordered suspension of cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route. Trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir takes place every week from Tuesday to Friday. Today was last day of this week’s trade.
Sources said no truck left Poonch for Rawlakote in PoK as shelling had started right in the morning. Similarly, no truck came to Poonch from PoK.
There were no casualties or damage on the Indian side in Pakistan shelling and firing. However, casualties, if any, on Pakistan side couldn’t be ascertained. Indian side, according to sources, retaliated very effectively to silence the Pakistani guns.
In another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops fired on forward posts along the LoC in Khour belt of Akhnoor sector last night while Indian troops gave a befitting reply, sources said.
An Army jawan sustained minor injuries in the exchange of fire, they said.
On Wednesday, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch sector.
On November 2, a BSF jawan was killed when Pakistani Rangers attacked a patrol party along the International Border in Samba district.
A girl was injured when Pakistani troops opened fire from small arms along the LoC in Karmara belt of Poonch district on October 31.
On October 18, eight civilians, including a two-year-old child, were injured in heavy Pakistani shelling in the district.
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