Pakistan violates ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch, Indian Army retaliates

Pakistan on Thursday initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by resorting to firing small arms along the Line of Control (LoC) in the in Shahpur and Kirni Sectors of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively to the heavy mortar shelling, initiated by Pakistan this morning. However, no casualty has been reported from either side in the cross-border firing till the time. The gunfight was still underway between Pakistani troops and the Indian Army when the last reports came in.

"Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch sector by firing heavy mortars on Indian positions, Indian Army retaliating," the news agency ANI reported.

Jammu & Kashmir: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch sector by firing heavy mortars on Indian positions, Indian Army retaliating.

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2019

There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan after India's preemptive air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot on February 26 following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 42 CRPF personnel were killed.

A large number of civilians, including some members of a family, were killed and several others injured as Pakistan targeted over 80 villages in more than 100 incidents of ceasefire violations along the LoC in the state since then.

The frequent ceasefire violations have caused panic among the border residents, forcing authorities to close down educational institutions within five km radius from the zero lines in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri as a precautionary measure. However, most schools reopened a few days back after the intensity of the cross-border firing decreased.