Ceasefire violations along the Line of Control continued at various locations on Monday, even as the Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire in Gurdaspur district after spotting suspicious movements near the International Border.
Pakistan violated the ceasefire in the Akhnoor sector and some parts of Poonch, military sources say. At least six civilians were injured as Pakistani troops opened fire in Poonch.
A police spokesman said Krishnaghati and Shahpur sectors of Poonch witnessed heavy firing and shelling from across the Line of Control.
Rashida Bi, Waqar Hussain, Ghulam Qadir and Shah Begum were injured in the Shahpur sector, while Uzma Bi and Hafiza Akhtar were hit by Pakistani fire in the Saujiyan area.
Pakistani fire started around 11 a.m. and continued all day. Around 26,000 civilians have been displaced in the Jammu region since India carried out “surgical strikes” inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
A number of forward posts were the target of Pakistani firing.
On Sunday night, the Pallanwalan area of the Akhnoor sector witnessed cross-LoC firing. Firing was on till late Monday night.
At Chakri post in Punjab’s Gurdaspur bordering Pakistan, the BSF opened fire after some suspicious movement was detected in the morning. A senior BSF official said there was no cross-border firing and the BSF fired to thwart any infiltration attempt. Before this, illumination rounds were fired as warning shots.
“Our jawans detected some movement beyond the zero line [150 yards area beyond the fences put up by India] in Chakri. We suspected an infiltration attempt and the BSF fired to stop them,” said the official. It is not unusual for the BSF to open fire at suspicious people along the dense Punjab border. It is a preferred route for drug smugglers.
Troop movement
In view of the continuing tensions, major movement of troops has been reported on the Pakistani side. In response, India has beefed up forces on its side of the LoC.
“There is a wait and watch game going on. Baramulla kind of incidents can happen anywhere. We have been asked to be on high alert,” one officer posted along the LoC told The Hindu.
