Pak troops violate ceasefire on Republic Day

Jammu/Srinagar: In a fresh ceasefire violation along the Line of Control in Kashmir, Pakistani troops on Sunday resorted to unprovoked firing for three hours on a day the nation celebrated its 65th Republic Day.

"Today at 6:15 AM, when it was dark, there was unprovoked firing from Pakistani side. They fired about three RPG rounds and small arms on to the Kaman post (in Uri sector) on the Indian side," General Officer Commanding of 19 Infantry Division Major General Anil Chauhan told reporters.

He said the aim of the firing was apparently to disrupt the peace and tranquility along the Line of Control.

The Army officer said the Indian troops showed restraint.

"In spite of continuous firing at the LoC for three hours, we have shown great restraint and did not retaliate at all. The idea basically is to maintain peace and tranquility along the LoC," he said.

This is the first ceasefire violation in Kashmir since the DGMO level talks between India and Pakistan last month. There were no casualties reported in the firing incident.

An army spokesman here said the issue of the ceasefire violation has been raised with Pakistani counterparts through hotline in the backdrop of recent meeting between the DGMOs of the two countries.

In Jammu, Governor N.N. Vohra said, "The repeated breach of the ceasefire and continuing attempts at infiltration ... in the past year have yet again disrupted normalcy and caused problems for our people."

"It is hoped that our neighbour shall respond positively to the initiatives which have recently been taken by the Government of India to once again urge it to maintain calm," he said.

The governor, who hoisted the national flag at the Maulana Azad Stadium on the occasion of Republic Day, said, "Needless to say, till a peaceful environment emerges, our security forces shall continue to enforce vigil along the frontiers without lowering their guard.

Praising the security forces and police personnel, he said, "I take this opportunity to pay tribute to state and central police forces and the army for their unflinching devotion to duty and pay homage to our brave officers who laid down their lives to protect the country's territorial integrity."