Pakistan violates ceasefire, shells LoC with mortar bombs

There were reports of two civilians suffering minor injuries in the firing and shelling. Pakistan shelled posts along the LoC in Shahpur, Krishnagati, Mandi and Sabzian sectors of Poonch district. “Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Mandi and Sabzian sectors of Poonch district from 1.45 pm on Monday”, Defence Spokesman Col Manish Mehta said. They fired 120 mm, 80 mm mortar bombs, automatic weapons and small arms, he said, adding the exchanges are going on. Earlier Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Poonch using small arms, automatic and mortar bombs (in Shahpur) in Poonch, he said. 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday convened a meeting of the three service chiefs to discuss the security situation, especially along the international border and the Line of control (LoC) with Pakistan. The meeting, attended by Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, Air Chief Arup Raha and Navy Chief Sunil Lanba, is being held in the backdrop of surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army across the LoC and the late last night terror attack on BSF and Army camps near Baramullah. 

In a noble gesture amid heightened tension between the two countries, the BSF on Monday handed back to Pakistan authorities a 12-yearold boy who had accidentally crossed over to the Indian side in search of drinking water. Officials said the boy identified as Md Tanveer was apprehended by the Border Security Force on Sunday evening at the Dona Telu Mal border post in Punjab.

They said he “inadvertently” crossed the International Border (IB) and came over to the Indian side in search of drinking water from a tubewell as he was thirsty. The BSF, officials said, took care of Tanveer overnight and kept him at their camp and early on Monday contacted their Pakistani counterparts so that he could be sent back to his village Dhari in Pakistan.