Pakistani troops fire mortars on LoC, one Indian soldier hurt (Second Lead)
By IANSSunday, May 23, 2010
JAMMU - One Indian soldier was injured Sunday when Pakistani troops fired mortars on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati in Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, an official said.
The firing has been going on for the past five hours, a spokesman of the Indian Army here said.
The gunfire duel started 9 a.m. after Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian positions - Kranti and Kirpan posts manned by 17 Mahar of the Indian Army - at Krishna Ghati in Poonch, about 200 km north of Jammu.
“Pakistani troops opened small arms fire at 9 a.m. The Indian Army retaliated but soon Pakistanis started firing rockets,” the spokesman told IANS.
“Now they have started firing 30 mm mortars,” he said.
More than 20 rockets have been fired. The mortar shells are being fired after every five to 15 minutes.
He said: “The exchange of fire is on.”
The Indian Army sees it as a “clear case of ceasefire violation”, the spokesperson added.
This is for the first time since a ceasefire was reached between India and Pakistan Nov 26, 2003 that Pakistani troops have fired mortars.
Pakistan has opened fire in Krishna Ghati sector for the fourth time this month. Earlier, it had indulged in firing on May 1, 6 and 18.
