Security forces have launched a multi-area search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district to track down suspected terrorists, following a foiled infiltration bid.
Security forces reported suspected drone activity in forward areas along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir. A search operation has been launched.
Indian Army troops fired upon and took down multiple suspected Pakistani drones that entered Indian territory from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the second such incident in three days.
Heavy Pakistani shelling in the border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir left nine people dead and 28 injured. The shelling, described by residents and officials as "barbaric and cowardly", started around 2 am, damaging dozens of residential houses, shops, vehicles, and heritage sites. The incident comes after India launched "Operation Sindoor" in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. India condemned the act, calling it a cowardly attack on civilians, and reaffirmed that civilian safety remains its top priority.
In a post on X, the additional directorate general of public information posted: "Pakistan again violates the Ceasefire Agreement by firing artillery in Bhimber Gali in the Poonch-Rajouri area. Indian Army is responding appropriately in a calibrated manner."
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday asked border villages residents, who were evacuated to safer places in view of cross border shelling by Pakistan, not to rush back to homes as they are yet to sanitise and clear these areas of any unexplored shells.
The reopening brought a sense of relief to students, teachers, and parents across the region.
Hundreds of residents along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir were evacuated to safer zones after Pakistani shelling following Indian airstrikes on terror targets in Pakistan. The shelling killed 12 people, including four children and two women, and injured over 50. The evacuations come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead. The government has provided temporary shelter for those evacuated.
The worst-hit in the Pakistani shelling was Poonch district which accounted for all the civilian deaths, the officials said, adding 28 persons were also injured and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical.
An Army personnel died of a bullet injury from his own service rifle near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, a police official said on Wednesday.
The officials added that six houses were damaged in the intense shelling by Pakistani troopers.
Indian troops retaliated befittingly to silence the Pakistani guns along the LoC in Mankote, Mendhar and Khari Karmara sectors in Poonch district and along the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, they said, adding there was no immediate report of any casualty.
'People are very scared. And frightened. There is apprehension of war.' 'We are under the shadow of swords from both sides and in the middle, we get crushed.' As the conflict between India and Pakistan dramatically escalates, villages along the Line of Control fear for their lives.
Violating the ceasefire yet again, Pakistani troops fired at forward Indian posts along the India-Pak border in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on forward border belts of Goutrian and Mankote along the Line of Control in Poonch sector on Wednesday night.
The Pakistan army used heavy weaponry, firing 120 mm mortars targeting civilian hamlets and forward posts since 5.30 pm on Tuesday, said an army officer.
The jawan is the third army personnel to die in Pakistani firing and shelling on forward posts and villages in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri this month.
Indian troops gave a befitting reply, resulting in heavy damage to Pakistan's army posts and casualties of its soldiers
2017 has also seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations at the LoC by Pakistan.
Violating the ceasefire for the ninth time in the past four days, Pakistani troops targeted 16 Indian forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir resulting in heavy exchanges.
There was no report of any casualty on the Indian side, he said.
There has been firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 8:45 am, a senior army officer said.
Pakistani troops opened heavy fire on Hamirpur and Balakote border belts along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and also pounded civilian areas of Mankote and Mendhar belts here, an army official said on Monday.
In the eighth infiltration bid from across the border this month, a group of five militants tried to intrude into the country on Sunday, an attempt foiled by the army. Five militants entered the Indian territory from across the Line of Control in Chajjar forward post of Mankote belt in Poonch district on Sunday afternoon and they fled back as army challenged them, official sources said.
Five other civilians injured as Pak troops shelled border out posts along the IB.
Indian troops guarding the border, retaliated resulting in exchanges.
This is the seventh consecutive day that Pakistan has targeted forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC).
The Army is retaliating strongly and effectively, the spokesman said.
'We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea'
There have been more than 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB in the state since surgical strikes against terror launch pads by the Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
BSF constable Nitin Subhash Koli sustained grievous injuries on Friday evening when an explosion inside the chamber of the long range weapon led to a recoil while he was firing.
The firing and mortar shelling continued night long in several sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Nine security force personnel were injured in the firing by the terrorists, they said adding five of them succumbed to injuries.
Amid heightened tension on the border, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice on Monday targeting Indian forward posts along the International Border in Poonch and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
A GERF labourer was killed while two others including a BSF jawan were injured in the shelling and firing on forward posts along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Amid escalation of cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir, top military officials of India and Pakistan on Tuesday discussed the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and International Border but failed to address the issue.
Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing amid rocket and mortar shell attacks on Line of Control posts injuring three army jawans and a civilian in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
A woman was killed and five persons were injured on Sunday as Pakistani troops intensified shelling on border posts and civilian area in Poonch and Rajouri in continued ceasefire violations that have claimed six lives in two days, drawing strong protest from India.
This is the ninth consecutive day that Pakistan violated the ceasefire. There have been 41 violations of the ceasefire accord this year so far. There has been over 230 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pakistan border this year.
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice overnight by pounding civilian hamlets and Indian forward posts with 120 mm and 82 mm mortar bombs along the LoC in Poonch district, drawing retaliation from the Army.
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