Pak troops again violate ceasefire near LoC in Baramulla, Kupwara

Defence Ministry Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that Pakistani troops, violating the 2003 ceasefire, fired mortar shells at around 1100 hrs on Sunday, targeting forward posts and civilian areas in Keran sector of Kupwara district.  

He said the troops from the neighbouring country also opened another front by resorting to unprovoked heavy shelling and firing in Rampur sector of Baramulla, at around 1240 hrs on Sunday.

The Indian troops retaliated at both the fronts and the exchange of fire was still going on, when the reports last came in. However, they said no one was injured in the shelling. 

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

Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire quite frequently in north Kashmir in the past two months, leaving 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, the 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 added that over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan's troops were recorded in 2019.