Pak troops fire rockets at Indian posts along LoC

Pakistani troops fired rockets and mortar shells at Indian border posts in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district today, officials said and added that Indian troops retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire.

Pakistani troops fired rockets and mortar shells at Indian border posts in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said and added that Indian troops retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire.

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The firing started around 3.30 p.m. at Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch, 210 km north of Jammu.

"Pakistani troops opened heavy machinegun fire and fired rockets and mortar shells at the Indian posts of Kranti and Kirpan along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector," a senior army officer told IANS by telephone.

Indian troops also retaliated and the exchange of fire was continuing even at 4.30 p.m. There were no reports of any casualties.

This is the second time since Sunday that the Pakistan Army has violated the ceasefire and targeted Indian posts, which the army believes is a "diversionary tactic" to "facilitate infiltration" from across the LoC.

One Indian soldier was killed in Pakistani firing Sunday evening.

Brigadier Satish K. Dua told IANS that the Indian troops were maintaining "high degree of vigil along the LoC".

He said that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire Wednesday despite the Indian protest Monday to its earlier such action Sunday.