Hindustan Times (Noida)

PAKISTAN VIOLATES CEASEFIRE

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com ■

JAMMU: Pakistan violated ceasefire and shot mortars on forward posts and villages along the LOC in Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir, from Friday night till Saturday, said Army spokespers­on Lt Col Devender Anand.

Poonch district’s deputy magistrate, Rahul Yadav said that 16 domestic animals were killed in overnight shelling by Pakistan in Balakot sector. “We closed four schools on Saturday as a precaution­ary measure because of unexploded mortar shells lying in the area,” he added.

AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, DISTRICT ADMINISTRA­TION ORDERED CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS IN BASONI, PANJINI AND SOHALA AREAS IN BALAKOTE

Jammu:pakistan violated ceasefire and shot mortars on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LOC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir, which started on Friday night and carried on till Saturday, said Army spokespers­on.

The defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said that Friday night Pakistan resorted to heavy fire and shot mortars in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district from about 2000 hours (8 pm) to 2200 hours (10 pm) and in Balakote sector of Poonch district from 2345 hours (11.45 pm) to 0200 hours (2 am), prompting Indian army to retaliate befittingl­y. There was no report of any casualty in the Pakistani firing on the Indian side, he added.

“On Saturday at about 0945 hours (9.45 am) Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch. Indian Army retaliatin­g befittingl­y,” he said.

Poonch district’s deputy magistrate, Rahul Yadav said that 16 domestic animals were killed in overnight shelling by Pakistan in Balakote sector. “We also closed four schools on Saturday as a precaution­ary measure because of the unexploded mortar shells lying in the area,” he added.

As a preventive measure, district administra­tion ordered closure of schools in Basoni, Panjini and Sohala areas in Balakote sector for the safety and security of the students and to avoid any untoward incident, said a police official.

A few structures suffered damage in Balakote on Saturday but there was no loss of life or injury, he added.

This year, according to officials, Pakistan violated the ceasefire over 2,050 times, leaving 21 Indians dead and scores of others injured.

On Thursday, Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire and resorted to firing along the LOC in two sectors of Poonch district. Pakistani rangers had also fired few small arm rounds along the Internatio­nal Border.

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