LOC ceasefire violation: Indian forces ready to hit Pakistan

New Delhi/Jammu: India is all set to give a befitting reply to Pakistan as jawans of the Border Security Force guarding the international border have been mobilised in critical areas to respond to one of the worst ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops targeting civilians, leaving eight persons dead and 28 others injured in several hamlets along the IB and the Line of Control in Jammu and Poonch sectors on Sunday night.

 

Clearly in no mood to de-escalate the tension, Pakistani forces once again resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing in the Mankote sector of Poonch district Monday night. Late Monday night a defence spokesman said the exchange of fire was on but no casualties were reported so far on the Indian side in the fresh firing.

 

Read: 5 killed, 29 injured as Pakistan fires at Indian posts, civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir

 

The border village of Arnia in Jammu has been the worst hit after heavy mortar shelling and firing from across the border landed on rooftops and courtyards of border hamlets tearing them off, spilling blood and triggering panic among villagers who were celebrating the Dasara festival on Sunday night. Pakistani troops used small, automatic weapons and mortar bombs to target the border hamlets.

 

The Narendra Modi government is furious at Pakistan’s unprovoked action and has asked the BSF to retaliate strongly. The Indian security forces will neither call for a flag meeting nor try to establish contacts with Pakistani forces, but will give a “‘befitting reply”, high-level sources said. 

 

Also Read: Over 200 evacuated from firing-affected hamlets in Jammu

 

On Monday, home minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan should immediately stop ceasefire violations.