Pakistan violates ceasefire in Kamalkote area of Uri sector, civilian injured

Pakistan indulges in cross-border shelling in the Kamalkote sector of Uri along the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday morning even as Pakistan has agreed to release captive Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman through the Wagah border on Friday.Ceasefire was violated in the Gawahalan, Chokas, Kiker and Kathi areas. Heavy shelling is on and one civilian identified as Riyaz Ahmed was injured during the ceasefire violation. Indian Army has responded to the Pakistani firing in adequate measures, the officials said. 

On Thursday, too, Pakistan had violated ceasefire by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms in Sunderbani, Mankote, Khari Karmara, and Degwar sectors across the Line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Shelling and firing which started at 6 am paused for some time and resumed at 3 pm. 

Earlier in the day, heavy firing between Indian and Pakistan Poonch district was reported. "At around 6 am today, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling mortars and firing small arms along the Krishna Ghati sector," Defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said.

The Indian army retaliated effectively and strongly. Firing exchanges stopped around 7 am, he added. Authorities had shut down all educational institutions within 5 km of the LoC and the international border in Rajouri, Poonch and Samba districts.

The ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops comes as tensions between India and Pakistan rose following the February 14 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.