Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J-K’s Poonch, Bhimber Gali sector

Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0645 hours

Pakistan resorted to indiscriminate shelling and firing on Tuesday along the Line of Control (LoC) in Bhimber Gali and Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence official said.

An Army jawan patrolling at the Line of Control (LOC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI File Photo)

Pakistan Army initiated the unprovoked firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0645 hours, defence ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said, adding the Indian Army was retaliating “strongly and effectively”.

The district administration in Rajouri has shut down 16 schools close to the LoC indefinitely. It has also ordered migration of the civilian population to safer places.

This was after a soldier and a child were killed on Monday in Pakistani shelling on the LoC in Rajouri, forcing India to warn the neighbouring country it reserved the right to hit back .

In a telephonic conversation, Lieutenant General A K Bhatt, the director general of military operations (DGMO), told his Pakistani counterpart that the Indian Army was sincere about maintaining peace on the LoC.

However, the DGMO made it explicit that the Indian Army reserves the right to retaliate against any ceasefire violation.