Our Correspondent

Rajouri, October 1

The Army has given befitting reply to Pakistan for intense unprovoked heavy mortar shelling and firing on the Army’s forward locations and civil areas in Poonch district since morning. The Pakistan army on Tuesday violated the 2003 truce agreement twice at about 8 am and again at about 3.15 pm that continued till 7.15 pm in Kirni and Shahpur areas in the Poonch sector.

On Sunday, 8 persons, including two soldiers, a minor boy and two women were injured in the cross border shelling in forward villages of Balakot sector in Mendhar tehsil.

“The Army is retaliating to the ceasefire violation by the Pakistan army effectively” said Lt Col Davender Anand,PRO Defence.

Inhabitants of the area said many mortar shells had landed in the forward villages

People living in the border villages have expressed their resentment against frequent firing and heavy shelling on the LoC alleging it had badly hit their harvesting season as well as their domestic life.

“As Pakistan has failed to counter India at every platform after the abrogation of Article 370, it has started targeting civil and forward locations in the district to continue the tension” said a senior police officer.