Pakistani troops once again violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked heavy shelling and firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Machil sector in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara on Thursday.
An Army official said that Pakistani troops, violating the 2003 ceasefire, fired mortar shells on Thursday afternoon, targeting forward posts and civilian areas in Machil sector.
He said Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire was still going on when the reports last came in, adding that no one was injured in the shelling.
This was the 13th violation by Pakistan troops during the past over a fortnight in North Kashmir. A woman was killed and two others were injured in the second week of this month in Pak ceasefire violation in Uri, where several structures were damaged in the shelling in civilian area. Five civilians were injured last week Pakistani troops again violated ceasefire and resorted to unprovoked shelling and firing near LoC in Hajipeer area in Uri sector and Ramjur sector in Baramulla. People, who have migrated to safer places, are demanding construction of individual and community bankers in the areas directly under the target of Pakistan troops near LoC.
Meanwhile, an amount of over Rs 6.3 crore is being utilized to construct 68 community bunkers in different border villages in Karnah in Kupwara.
An official said that 68 community bunkers in Budwan, Shamspora, Gomal, Chamkote Kandi and some villages of Teetwal block with each Shelter Shed costing Rs 9.3 lakh are being constructed.
Pakistan has been violating ceasefire frequently in north Kashmir for the last two months that has left several civilians and soldiers dead.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army’s 15 Corps Lt General B S Raju last week said that Pakistan troops are violating ceasefire to facilitate militants to infiltrate into Kashmir valley.
However, he said despite facing all odds, Indian troops remained on high alert along the Line of Control (LoC) to foil any militant attempt to infiltrate into this side.
Sources said that a large number of militants are waiting at launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to sneak into this side. “There were a total of 646 incidents of ceasefire violation along the International Border (IB) as well as the LoC between January 1 and February 23 this year,” an official said.
He said over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan’s troops were recorded in 2019.