Pakistan violates ceasefire in Balakote sector; 1,700 shifted to safer places

Jammu, May 17 : Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again on Wednesday by firing at Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Jammu of Kashmir.
“The Pakistani Army resorted to firing at Indian forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today,” a defence spokesman said. Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said.
He said the Pakistani Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector.
The firing continued till 2100 hours on Tuesday. The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district. The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people. Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others. On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.