Poonch, June 7
The Pakistani troops yet again allegedly violated the four-year-old ceasefire after they resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Salhotri area in Mendhar sector here late last evening. However, Pakistan has not yet responded to the allegations of violating truce.
Defence sources said the first violation of ceasefire by the Pakistani troops was reported in the Salhotri area of this frontier district at 4 pm that continued till 6 pm, but the Indian Army maintained restraint and did not retaliate. They added that at 8 pm when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy machinegun fire towards the Indian posts, the Indian troops retaliated and forced the Pakistani troops to silence their guns. However, no loss of life was reported from the Indian side.
This is the fourth incident of ceasefire violation within last one month in the state by the Pakistani army, which resorted to firing on the Indian positions on May 19 in the Nangi Tekri area in Mendhar sector (wherein an Army jawan was killed), then on May 8 and May 13 in Samba and Tanghdhar sectors, respectively.
A local Army officer confirmed that the incident was a clear-cut case of ceasefire violation. "The Pakistani troops resorted to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing on us from across the LoC. This is a clear case of ceasefire violation and they (Pakistani troops) have yet again broken our trust,” he said. He further added that it seemed to be an apparent attempt to push trained militants into this side.
