Pak violates ceasefire twice in a day along LoC in Poonch

JAMMU: People living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir have been braving enemies on two fronts with fear of coronavirus and frequent firing by Pakistan keeping them inside their houses for long hours. Pakistan on Tuesday yet again violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing and shelling along the LoC in Poonch district twice in a day.
“Around 11.20am, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Kerni sector of Poonch district,” a defence spokesperson said.He added that Indian Army retaliated befittingly and there was no casualty or any major damage to property.
Pakistan troops violated the ceasefire for the second time along the LoC with unprovoked firing and shelling in Kerni and Qasba sectors of Poonch district. “Aroun 5.20pm on Tuesday, Pakistan again initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Kerni & Qasba sectors of Poonch,” the defence spokesperson said.
There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan since August 2019 when India revoked Article 370 from J&K and bifurcated it into two union territories. Over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan’s troops were recorded in 2019 along the LoC and the international border, while this year also has witnessed over 600 ceasefire violations.
Due to continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan, there is panic among people living along the border amid the ongoing threat of coronavirus. Kerni, Balakote, Mankote, Qasba in Poonch district; Laam, Nowshera, Sunderbandi, Manjakote in Rajouri district and Hiranagar, Samba, Ramgarh sectors in Kathua and Samba districts are worst-affected due to the repeated ceasefire violations since a month.
Meanwhile, a live mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops was defused by security forces in Rajouri district on Tuesday.