Pak violates ceasefire for fourth time in June

Small arms firing on Indian posts in Durga Battalion area along the LoC in Poonch around 3.15 p.m.; no loss of life or injury

An Indian army soldier works near the line of control, the line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, after reported ceasefire violation, in Mendhar, Poonch district, about 210 kilometers (131 miles) from Jammu, India, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. An Indian army official said Pakistani soldiers crossed the cease-fire line in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and attacked an Indian army patrol, killing two Indian soldiers. While the two nations remain rivals, relations between them have improved dramatically since the 2008 Mumbai siege, in which 10 Pakistani gunmen killed 166 people and effectively shut down the city for days. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani troops on Tuesday violated ceasefire for the fourth time this month by opening firing on Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.

“There was small arms firing on Indian posts in Durga Battalion area along the LoC in Poonch brigade belt around 1515 hours today,” PRO Defence, S.N. Acharya said.

He said Indian troops guarding the border took positions and retaliated, resulting in exchange of firing.

The firing exchanges were occurring intermittently when the reports last came in from the area, he said, adding that this was the fourth ceasefire violation this month.

There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing, Mr. Acharya said.

Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi are on a two-day visit to the State.

Earlier this month, a Junior Commissioned Officer was killed when Pakistan opened heavy fire with automatic weapons and rockets on Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch sector.

Pakistani troops had also opened indiscriminate firing in the Poonch sector in which a civilian was injured after an infiltration bid was foiled by Indian troops. They had opened small arms firing on Indian posts in Nangi Tikri forward area along the LoC in Krishnagati.

Last month, Pakistani troops had pounded Indian posts along LoC in the Poonch sector with rockets. A Brigadier and two jawans were injured when Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian positions along the LoC in Tutmari Gali sector in Jammu and Kashmir.