Cross-LoC travel on hold amid Pakistan shelling

Jammu: The Poonch-based cross-border Trade Facilitation Centre was damaged and the cross-LoC travel had to be suspended on Monday due to heavy shelling by Pakistan, which triggered a sharp reply from the Indian troops.

The Pakistani troops resumed the heavy mortar shelling and automatic weapon firing at 6.40 am on Monday after a lull of the ceasefire violation that began on Sunday, targeting the Indian posts and civilian areas near the Line of Control, said the defence spokesperson.

“There was unprovoked firing by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector from 0640 hours on Monday with 82 mm mortars and automatic weapons,” said the defence spokesman adding the Pakistani onslaught was “befittingly” responded to.

“The Army took position and responded befittingly and an intermittent firing is on presently,” he said adding there has been no casualty on our side.

Summing up the effect of Pakistani shelling, a senior district administration officer said, “The travel on cross-LoC Poonch-Rawlakote bus service was suspended on Monday as precaution due to the shelling by Pakistani troops.”

Officer said the shelling also damaged the two-storey administrative block of Trade Facilitation Centre at Chakan-Da-Bagh area along LoC in Poonch, necessitating evacuation of the TFC officials to safety. Monday’s cease-fire breach is the second in the last 20 hours and the third one in four days. The Pakistani troops started 82 mm mortar shelling on Sunday in Krishnagati sector along LoC in Poonch district.