Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 15: Over a dozen houses were damaged while a school student was injured when Pakistan Army resumed heavy mortar shelling and firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in most parts of Poonch sector after a day’s lull targeting civilian areas and forward Indian positions almost throughout the day intermittently while Army foiled a cross-border plan to plant IEDs and target patrolling troops as they recovered one such Pakistan-made mine along the LoC.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan Army started heavy shelling at Sabjian sector at 9 am today targeting forward Indian posts and civilian areas. The farmers working in the fields rushed back to their houses and bunkers to take shelter as 82mm mortar shells landed in the fields and houses of the people.
Indian side retaliated effectively, leading to exchanges, sources said, adding that shelling and firing from Pakistan side continued till 12.30 pm in Sabjian sector. More than a dozen houses were damaged in Pakistan shelling but there were no casualties or damage on the Army side. The civilians living in forward areas of Sabjian also survived as they timely reached safer locations when the shelling started from Pakistan side.
In Shahpur sector of Poonch also, Pakistan started mortar shelling simultaneously at 9 am. However, the shelling in Shahpur sector topped at 10.30 am after retaliation by the Indian troops. Here also, the shells fell close to houses in civilian areas and fields damaging some structures partially.
A 7 years old student, who was returning from the school, was hit by splinters of mortar shells at village Kaiyan in Shahpur sector and was injured. He has been identified as Riaz Ahmad son of Fazal Hussain, a resident of Kayian.
SSP Poonch Shamsheer Hussain said police teams from nearby police post rushed to the spot and evacuated the injured to hospital amidst continued shelling from Pakistan side. The boy was responding to treatment, he added. Timely evacuation of the boy has saved his life.
In Salhutri and Kirni forward areas also, Pakistan Army resorted to firing, which the Indian troops replied.
There was no firing or shelling from Pakistan side yesterday but it resumed again this morning.
Sources said injuries to a school student in Pakistan shelling, authorities have directed the Education authorities to take decision on closure of schools depending upon area of shelling and firing. “If required anywhere, the schools can be closed down for safety of the students,’’ they added.
On the other side, the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector remained calm for fourth consecutive day today.
“There was no firing or shelling by Pakistan in any area of 198 kilometers long IB from Kathua to Akhnoor for fourth day today. However, the BSF remained on high alert to counter any threat from Pakistan side,’’ sources said. About 33,000 border people, who have migrated from their houses, continued to stay in the relief camps as they were apprehensive of returning to their houses for the fear of fresh shelling or firing.
Meanwhile, a Pakistan origin claymore mine along with a knife, shawl, tracksuit and caps was recovered on LoC in Sabjian sector in Poonch today by an alert LoC domination patrol part of the Army”, PRO Defence Jammu Lt Col Manish Mehta said.
The mine recovery reaffirms the handiwork of inimical terrorists and subversive elements in spreading acrimonious activities on LoC and hinterland, he said.
“The Indian Army continues to enhance and upgrade its vigil on a daily basis resulting in such recovery of lethal mine which had 800 pellets and has a killing area of 50 meters and danger area of around 200 meters”, Lt Col Mehta said.
The Indian Army is fully prepared and geared up to handle any such misadventure or nefarious design of terrorists and inimical elements, he said.
“With no head way being made on any ground whether the IB or LoC. Inimical elements have now started taking assistance from the terrorists in planting IED and mines on the LoC”, Lt Col Mehta said.
Pointing towards the incidents of IED blast in Balnoi sector on October 10, he said “it was one such incident”.
Yesterday, some suspected persons were challenged by the troops along LoC, official sources said, adding they escaped leaving behind a bag, containing the mine weighing 7.2 kilograms.
The LoC has always been facing acts of uncalled for aggression from across the border in various forms but the vigilant and alert troops of Indian Army deployed in the challenging terrain of Pir Panjal mountains have always been answering these provocative acts with resolute, firm and appropriate response.
“It (Pak) has always flouted the rights and dignity of civilian population by targeting them both during ceasefire violations and by planting IED on roads being used by them also”, sources said.
On October 4, an army jawan was killed and another injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by the militants in Balnoi belt along the LoC in Poonch district.
On May 19, a jawan was killed and two of his colleagues were injured in an attack by suspected Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT), which set off a mine blast and open fired on a patrol party along LoC in Chakla belt in Pallanwalla sector of the Jammu district.
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