Ahead of the Army commanders conference on Wednesday, the Line of Control in Poonch sector witnessed intense exchange of mortar shelling between the Armies of India and Pakistan in which at least three houses suffered extensive damages while livestock perished in Sandote village of Balakote sector in Poonch on Tuesday.
According to ground reports, the firing in the forward villages continued for over four hours in the area forcing the local residents to remain closeted inside their homes.
Several residential structures bore the brunt of heavy shelling in Sandote village, falling in the direct line of fire. According to local villagers in the area, three houses suffered maximum damages and three animals perished while over half a dozen animals sustained injuries in heavy exchange of cross LoC firing. Jammu based Defence PRO, Lt Col Devender Anand said, “ Pakistan initiated ' unprovoked' ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Balakote sector of Poonch on Tuesday morning. He said, the Indian Army retaliated befittingly.
According to defence sources, there has been no let up from the Pakistan side to push small group of infiltrators inside the Indian territory. Even during the holy month of Ramzan, the Pakistan Army continued to breach ceasefire agreement and resorted to heavy shelling on civilian areas and forward posts of the Indian Army.
Ground reports suggested, during intense firing Pakistan army is using heavy caliber weapons including artillery guns to target the civilian pockets on the Indian side.
“More than 400 incidents of ceasefire violations were reported in the last one month in the Poonch and Rajouri sector”,official sources said.