Pak troops violate ceasefire near LoC in J&K's Baramulla

The ceasefire violation comes just two days after a woman was killed and two others were injured in Pakistan shelling and firing from across the LoC in Baramulla’s Uri sector, where over 50 families have been evacuated to safer places in view of tension on the border.

Defence Ministry Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that Pakistani troops, violating the 2003 ceasefire, fired mortar shells in the morning hours of Sunday, targeting forward posts and civilian areas in Rampur sector in Baramulla.

He said Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire was still going in when the reports last came in.

He added that no one was injured in the shelling.

Col Kalia said Indian Army is targeting Pakistan troops position with high precision.

This was the fourth violation by Pakistan troops in the area during the past over one week. Several structures were damaged in the Pakistan shelling in the civilian area.

People, who have migrated to safer places, are demanding construction of individual and community bankers in the areas directly under the target of Pakistan troops near LoC.

Pakistan has been violating ceasefire frequently in north Kashmir for the last two months that has left several civilians and soldiers dead.

Official sources said that Pakistan troops are violating ceasefire to facilitate militants to infiltrate into Kashmir valley. "A large number of militants are waiting at launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to sneak into this side," they said.

However, they said despite facing all odds, Indian troops remained on high alert along the Line of Control (LoC) to foil any militant attempt to infiltrate into this side.

There were a total of 646 incidents of ceasefire violation along the International Border (IB) as well as the LoC between January 1 and February 23 this year, an official said.

He said over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan's troops were recorded in 2019.