Pak targets LoC areas of Nowshera, Poonch, Akhnoor: Army

Jammu, May 2: The Indian Army Friday said that the Pakistan Army continued to violate the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing in Poonch, Nowshera, and Akhnoor sectors on Thursday night.

However, the firing was responded to proportionately, the Army said.

Ceasefire violation in the Akhnoor sector was reported for the fourth consecutive day.

However, the Poonch and Nowshera sectors witnessed the exchange of fire between the two sides after a lull for 48 and 24 hours.

Pakistan Army had also resorted to unprovoked firing in Akhnoor sector on May 1, April 30, and April 29 nights.

According to Lt Col Bartwal, Pakistan Army posts had on Wednesday night initiated unprovoked small-arms fire across the Line of Control (LoC) opposite the Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors besides the Akhnoor sector and across the International Border (IB) in the Pargwal sector of Jammu region.

Similar exchanges of fire between the two sides took place during the intervening night of April 27 and 28, along the LoC across areas opposite Poonch district.

The Indian Army responded in a measured and effective manner to the provocation, Lt Col Bartwal said.

Amid persisting incidents of ceasefire violations, the people living along Arnia and other border areas in Jammu have started cleaning both community and individual bunkers and stocking them with the essentials.

Arnia villagers engaged in the cleaning exercise said that around 50 bunkers in and around the village, besides 6 to 7 community bunkers, were cleaned and all arrangements, including electricity, were put in place.

We are ready for any eventuality. Each community bunker is fully equipped to cater to the needs of 50 to 60 people. There are separate arrangements for men and women inside the community bunkers. Individual bunkers too can house two families, said Sunil Chowdhary.

Presently, in most of the border villages, harvesting exercise is going on in full swing.

A group of Reva village residents said, Villagers are working in their fields along the border, harvesting crops, storing and finishing other related works. So far, our village has not witnessed any incident of ceasefire violation. But we have heard that nearby villages have witnessed incidents of ceasefire violations. So, we are hurrying up as you never know when a ceasefire violation will take place here too.î

They said: We have enough bunkers which have been kept in a ready mode. Almost in every village and Panchayat, these bunkers are available. Though we know that we, being the border inhabitants, will have to bear the brunt of any action still we want the Centre to take stringent action against the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack. The back of terrorism should be broken. We want a permanent solution to this menace.