Jammu, October 22
Pakistani troops pounded at least eight Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector today, at a time when Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was reviewing the security scenario with top officers in Samba and Jammu.

“Pakistani troops opened heavy fire in Balakote, Mankote and Mendhar sub-sectors today. Around 11.50 am, they fired mortars and RPGs on three posts in Mankote from their LP, Pir and New HMG posts. The exchange of fire continued till 2 pm,” said an Intelligence source.

The Mankote sub-sector is manned by 13 Rajputana Rifles. The source said around 11 am Pakistani troops opened heavy fire on five Indian posts, namely 490, MST, Kanga, 485 Alpha and 485, in the Mendhar and Balakote sub-sectors from their Kaman, Panjini Forward, Khori, Mochi Tekri, Goga and Cheel posts. The exchange of fire in these sub-sectors continued till 1.30 pm, he said.

The Mendhar sub-sector is being guarded by 5 Grenadiers while the Balakote sub-sector is manned by 15 Bihar Regiment. There were no casualties or injuries to Indian soldiers. However, the Jammu-based defence spokesperson Col RK Palta said Pakistani troops opened fire in the Hamirpur Battalion area of the Bhimber Gali sector from 10.35 am to 11.15 am today.

“In the unprovoked firing, they used small arms, automatics weapons and mortars. The Indian troops retaliated effectively using similar calibre weapons,” he said. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Rangers again targeted Indian forward positions in the RS Pura sector along the international border.