Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Rajouri, Kathua; girl injured

Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations today with firing and mortar shelling on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC and international border in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts, leaving a girl injured.

The BSF and Army have responded "appropriately and befittingly", a defence spokesman said.

"There was unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Sunderbani, Pallanwala and Nowshera sectors of Rajouri and Jammu districts today," the spokesman said.

They used small arms, automatics, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars in the firing and shelling, he said.

"They are being responded appropriately and befittingly. No casualties to our troops have been reported," he said.

Firing and shelling continued overnight along the international border.

"At 1720 hour yesterday, Pakistan Rangers started unprovoked heavy firing and shelling in Katgus Sector of Jammu which further spread to Hiranagar and Samba.

"It continued till 0500 hours till today in area of 24 BSF posts," a senior BSF officer said, adding the BSF responded strongly after which the firing stopped.

"Some Pakistani posts and villages have suffered heavy damage," he said.

On Thursday, a Pakistani Ranger was killed and another injured in retaliatory firing by the BSF, as Pakistani troops heavily shelled five sectors along LoC and IB in J&K in which one BSF jawan died and 13 other civilians were injured.

While Pakistani troops pounded BoPs and hamlets along IB in Kathua, Hiranagar sectors (Kathua), R S Pura and Arnia sectors (Jammu) and Samba sector, they also targeted forward Indian posts and villages along LOC in Krishnagati, Balakote and Mankote sectors (Poonch) and Sunderbani sector (Rajouri) on Thursday.

Since the surgical strikes by Indian army on terror launch pads in PoK on 28-29 September, five Indians, including four security personnel, have been killed and 34 injured in ceasefire violations.

On 21 October, the BSF killed seven Pak rangers and a terrorist opposite the Hiranagar sector along In in Kathua, in which one BSF jawan was injured.

On 25 October, at least 2-3 Pakistani army men are believed to have been killed in retaliatory firing by Indian troops in the Noushera sector of Rajouri district.

--PTI