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Ceasefire ‘violated’ thrice on IB, LoC

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 10/18/2014 4:37:36 PM

Death toll in border firing mounts to 9

JAMMU, Oct 17: The death toll in border shelling and firing mounted to nine as a villager injured in Pakistani mortar shelling succumbed to his injuries in Government Medical College (GMC) hospital here today.
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire thrice by firing with small arms and automatic weapons on Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district and International Border (IB) in RS Pura sector, drawing retaliation from the army and BSF.
Police said that a villager injured in Pakistani mortar shelling succumbed to his injuries at GMC hospital here today, taking the toll to nine in recent incidents of ceasefire violations. Om Prakash, son of Nand Lal of Arnia who was injured critically in shelling along International Border (IB) last week in R S Pura belt of Jammu district, died at GMC hospital here, police said.
Irate over the death, people particularly relatives and family members of the deceased alleged that he died due to negligence of doctors at the hospital and demanded a probe. He was injured in Pakistani firing on October 6 and was hospitalized. His condition continued to deteriorate and he succumbed to his wounds, today.
The Pakistani Rangers fired 24 rounds on Nikki Tawi and AMC Border out Posts (BoPs) at International Border in RS Pura sector. The firing started at 4.30 PM and intermittent firing continued for an hour. There was no loss of life in the firing. The BSF jawans also retaliated with small arms and high alert was sounded along the IB.
The IB and LoC in Jammu region have witnessed heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops since October 1 which has left nine persons dead and over 95 injured, including 13 security men.
Around 30,000 people have fled their border homes leaving 113 hamlets deserted along the IB.
Reports from Poonch said that Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire thrice by firing with small arms and automatic weapons on Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district.
"There was small arms and automatic weapons firing by Pakistani troops on Indian posts along the LoC in Hamirpur sector of Poonch district around 9.55 AM today, a senior Army officer said.
Troops guarding the borderline retaliated, resulting in exchanges, which were going on when reports last came in. Pakistani troops had also targeted forward areas along LoC in Hamirpur sector of Poonch from 9 PM to 10.45 PM last night, drawing retaliation from Indian troops, he said.
"There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in Pakistani firing on troops side", he said.
Before these two ceasefire violations, Pakistan had violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing and mortar shelling along the LoC in Saujian-Kirni-Shahpur belts of Poonch on October 15 in which seven-year-old Riyaz of Kuiyian Gotirian village was injured.
Reports from Mendhar said that Pakistani troops of 651 Mujahideen Regiment deployed at Top Gagrian and Mahal Dorian forward Posts opened fire from 10.40 AM to 12 noon at Indian forward Posts MS Tekri and Konical manned by 15 Bihar Regiment. There was no fence while several nullahs and zigzags were passing in the area.
The troops of 15 Bihar Regiment retaliated the fire with equal caliber.
"International Border has remained calm for the past few days," Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Zone, Shant Manu said. The IB and LoC in Jammu region have witnessed heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops since October one which has left eight persons dead and over 95 injured, including 13 security men.
Besides nearly 30,000 people have fled from their border homes leaving 113 hamlets deserted along the IB.