Massive ceasefire violation in Rajouri sector

JAMMU: At least three Pakistani troops were killed in Indian retaliation on that side of the Line of Control (LoC) after Pak soldiers resorted to heavy ceasefire violation in Keri forward locations of Rajouri sector today.

Official sources told the `Excelsior’ that Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked heavy shelling on the Indian side, targeting some civilian areas at around 7 am this morning. They used mortars, medium and light weapons and the intermittent firing continued for about four hours.

With the increasing intensity of shelling, panic gripped the adjoining villages of Keri sub sector as the mortar shells were falling in the fields and near residential houses. Many forward villagers took shelter in the bunkers while others confined themselves inside their houses for hours together.

Though Pak troops targeted some defence units and civilian areas as well but there was no loss of life or damage to the property reported on this side. The Indian troops retaliated effectively and targeted some Pak installations killing at least three Pak soldiers and causing injuries to few others.

The defence sources confirmed some casualties on that side in Indian retaliation and maintained that a few Pak troops reported to have injured in Army action. They said that Pak Army has already deployed additional troops along the Line of Control in anticipation of any possible action from the Indian side. The area targeted by Indian forces on that side of the LoC falls just adjacent to Khuiratta in Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Several villages adjacent to Khuiratta have reported Indian shelling on social media as well.

At least three Pak forward posts resorting to shelling on the India side of Keri sub sector and they met effective retaliation from the Indian posts at the slops of Pir Badhesar mountain, from where Khuiratta town in PoK and some Pak posts are clearly visible.

This is the second major ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops within 24 hours. On Tuesday, they had targeted Balakote, Shahpur, Kirni and Qasba areas of Poonch sector, but there was no loss of life except some minor damage to the structures of the villagers. A Pak soldier was also reportedly killed in the Indian retaliation yesterday.

Defence sources further said that Pakistani troops are desperate to push armed terrorists into this side of the Line of Control before the closure of higher passes due to heavy snowfall in coming months. They try to divert the attention of the Indian troops by engaging them in cross border firing and facilitate the intrusion of the terrorists. But the Indian troops have been put on high alert, especially after deployment of additional forces by the Pakistani Army along the LoC in the recent past.

The LoC is suddenly getting activated again for the last few weeks in Rajouri, Poonch and Kupwara sectors. There are reports about intrusion of militants from some areas of the border belt despite the fact that security forces have been put on high alert.