An Indian Army soldier at the border
In continuing ceasefire violations, Pakistani troops today targeted 40 Border Out Posts and 25 border hamlets with heavy mortar shells in Jammu sector and Line of Control (LoC) areas in Poonch district of J&K, leaving nine persons injured.
Military officials of India and Pakistan discussed on the hotline the escalation in cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir but there were no signs of a solution to the standoff.
In all, the Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire four times today, security and civil officials said.
Officials of the Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries spoke for five minutes during which both the sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire, Army sources said in New Delhi.
Today's incidents came a day after five villagers were killed and 34 injured in one of the worst ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Pakistan's night-long mortar-bomb attacks and rattle of heavy guns has sent the border villagers scurrying for cover with fear.
They fled their mud-houses on buses, tractor-trollies and bull-carts to safer places in Jammu leaving behind deserted hamlets.
With no let-up in ceasefire violations at the LoC, anti-Pakistan protests rocked Jammu and other areas today to protest the firing and shelling.
"There was fresh ceasefire violations by Pakistan at Banwat and Hamirpur along LoC in Poonch. The firing started at 1620 hours with Small Arms and Mortars", Defence Spokesman Lt Col Maneesh Mehta said tonight.
"Own forces responded effectively and appropriately. No casualty till last report came in", he added.
In another ceasefire violation earlier, Defence Spokesman Lt Col Maneesh Mehta said Pakistani troops opened fire with small arms in Balnoie forward belt along LoC in Poonch district around 1420 hours.
The Army retaliated effectively and the exchange of fire is going on in the area, he said, adding that there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the Army.
In a ceasefire violation in the morning, Pakistan Rangers resorted to firing and mortar shelling in Arnia in RS Pura sector, a police officer said.
A shell also exploded near the compound wall of a police station in Arnia, leaving six persons injured, he said.
"Pakistani Rangers had fired mortars and opened heavy fire on BSF posts along the International Border since 2100 hours last night", BSF Spokesman Vinood Yadav said.
"As many as 40 BSF Border Out Posts were affected by the fire from Pakistan side", Mr Yadav said, adding that firing and shelling was targeted on areas along International Border in Arnia, R S Pura, Kanachak and Pargwal sub-sectors along the International Border in Jammu and Samba districts.
There has been heavy firing and mortar shelling on 20 to 25 border hamlets along the International Border in Arnia, R S Pura, Pargwal, Ganjansoo and Kanachak belts of Jammu district since last night, District Magistrate, Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu told PTI.
Three persons have been injured in the firing in Jammu border areas and have been hospitalised, officials said. In view of the firing, over 1,000 people were also shifted to camps overnight.