J&K: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan breaks two-day lull along LoC
What's the story
Pakistani troops today violated ceasefire by targeting forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector, Jammu, breaking a two-day lull in cross-border skirmishes.
"The firing from across the border started around 3:00am and stopped at 6:30am," a defense spokesman said.
Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing mortar shells and small arms on forward posts and villages.
Information
Guns had fallen silent all along the LoC since Friday
"Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively," the spokesman said, adding there was no report of casualty on the Indian side. Barring a two-hour cross-border firing in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district Saturday afternoon, the guns had fallen silent all along the LoC since Friday night.
Deaths
Pakistan has violated ceasefire over 50 times in Poonch, Rajouri
The lull in the cross-border firing had come as a major relief to the border residents, especially in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri, where Pakistan had violated ceasefire for over 50 times, killing four persons including three members of a family and injuring several others.
The ceasefire violations by Pakistan witnessed a spurt after India bombed Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot.
Air strikes
India bombed JeM terror camps in Pakistan following Pulwama attack
India bombed JeM terror camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26 in a "preemptive" action following the terrorist group's February 14 suicide bombing in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
Amid heightened tensions, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat visited Jammu-based White Knight Corps on Saturday.
He reviewed the operational preparedness of the forces in the Corps Zone.
Review
Army chief praised the morale and preparedness of the troops
Gen Rawat also visited various forward locations of Samba and Ratnuchak in view of the current situation along the International Border (IB) in Jammu region again yesterday, and expressed complete confidence in Indian Army's capabilities to thwart any nefarious design of enemies of the country and handle any situation.
The Army chief also praised the high state of morale and preparedness of the troops.