Srinagar, July 12: In a ceasefire violation, Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing from small arms at two places along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The unprovoked firing from across the border took place in the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district and the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate. No death or injury has been reported.

According to reports, Pakistani troopers violated the ceasefire and started firing in Nowshera and Krishna Ghati sectors around 8:00 am and the cross-border skirmishes were underway at the time of filing this report. Pakistani soldiers initiated shelling with mortars and small arms, sources told news agency ANI. The Indian Army retaliated strongly but the casualties on the Pakistani side could not be known immediately. Pakistan Violated Ceasefire 1,248 Times in Past Six Months, Says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Pakistan Rangers had on Wednesday violated the ceasefire along the LoC in the Digwar sector of Poonch district. They had also violated the ceasefire along the LoC in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Monday. A civilian had sustained injuries in the firing. The injured civilian was identified as Ram Swaroop. He was shifted to Nowshera hospital. Seven Pakistan Posts Destroyed as Indian Army Retaliates to Ceasefire Violations.

According to the Indian government, four people have been killed due to ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control in the last six months. While there were a total of 1,248 ceasefire violations, the month of March alone recorded 267 violations that claimed three lives, the government told Rajya Sabha.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Appropriate retaliation to the ceasefire violations, as required, has been carried out by the Indian Army."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2019 10:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).