Pak troops violate ceasefire along LoC, IB in Poonch 2 Jawans among 5 injured

Five persons, including two BSF jawans, were injured in firing and shelling by Pakistani troops in violation of ceasefire along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting forces here to retaliate. The Pakistan Rangers today resorted to small arms firing on Brahman Bella and Raipur Border out Posts (BoPs) along the IB in Pargwal sector of Akhnoor belt in Jammu district from 1515 hours today, a police officer said. They fired mortar shells along the IB, forcing…

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Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch sector four civilians injured

Four civilians were injured on Sunday in unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistan troops on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir`s Poonch district, officials said. Defence sources said here that Pakistani troops army resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling at two places on the LoC in Poonch, using small arms, automatics and mortars to target Indian positions at Karni and Degwar. “Pakistan ceasefire violation started at 6 p.m. Our troops have effectively and strongly retaliated,” a source said. Police said four civilians including a woman were injured…

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Kishtwar to observe shutdown, Transporters, Fruit growers extend support to Aug 12 strike call

Shutdown has been called in Kishtwar district tomorrow against attempts to abrogate Article 35-A which grants state’s legislature power to define the permanent residents. Imam Jamia Masjid Kishtwar Farooq Ahmed Kitchloo called for a complete shutdown on August 12 to protest against attempts to abrogate Article 35-A of the Constitution. “People of Kishtwar district are appealed to observe a shutdown on Saturday, August 12 against attempts to abrogate the state subject law (Article 35-A) which has been in vogue here for decades,” said Kitchloo. General Secretary Chenab Valley Traders Association…

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India, Pakistan trade fire along LoC, 5 civilians killed scores injured

Five civilians were killed as the armies of India and Pakistan traded heavy fire along the Line of Control in Poonch sector, reports said. An official said that Mohammad Showkat and his wife Shafiya were killed after a shell fired from across the border hit their house in Khari Karmama sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Their three children were injured in the attack, he said, adding that they were shifted to District Hospsital Poonch for treatment. Three civilians were killed and six others injured due to “unprovoked…

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Guns roar again along LoC, GREF driver killed, BSF man among 7 injured in Pak shelling

A GREF driver was killed and seven others including a BSF man injured in cross Line of Control (LoC) shelling by Pakistan Army in Krishna Ghati and Mankote sectors of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district on Thursday. Defence sources said Pakistani troops fired from automatic weapons and resorted to mortar shelling on army positions and civilian areas in Mendhar tehsil this morning. They said the army men also returned the fire. In Mankote sector, a mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops exploded close to a moving vehicle of GREF carrying…

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PDP unlikely to surrender Poonch seat to BJP

Even as the BJP is staking its claim on the Legislative Council seat reserved for Poonch district, sources said the PPDwas unlikely to leave the seat for its coalition partner as the party had set a target to make the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri its citadels. For the PDP, Poonch and Rajouri are politically “fertile” belt in the Jammu province so the party leadership is likely to leave no opportunity to make inroads into the mountainous belt, the sources said. The BJP during its state election committee…

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Muslims object to use of loudspeakers in Hindu temple; leads to tension in Poonch

Tension gripped Poonch this morning as news spread about some youths of the majority community forcibly entering Lakshmi Narayan Temple at Jhullas the previous evening and manhandling youths of the minority community while objecting to the use of a loudspeaker. This was the third incident within a week wherein attempts had been made to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in the region by interfering in religious affairs at temples. Sources said youths of the majority community barged into the temple at Jhullas at 8:30 pm on Sunday, which was resisted by youths…

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Mughal Road major security concern: Johnny William

The security grid has been tightened in the frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch following sacrilegious acts at two Jammu temples, threats by militants to disturb and attack the Amarnath yatra and exfiltration attempt by three Kashmiri youths for arms training. Johnny William, DIG, Rajouri-Poonch police range, said additional police posts had been set up on the Mughal Road and security tightened around all religious places in both districts. “Though no infiltration has been reported from the two districts in the last few years, we can’t take the matter casually.…

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College students ‘beaten up’ by jawans, block road in Surankote

Students of Government Degree College in Surankote today held a protest against the Army for allegedly disrupting regular college affairs in the name of ex-servicemen rally at Surankote. The students alleged that they were also beaten up by soldiers. They held a protest at a traffic check post (TCP) and later on shopkeepers and parents of the students also joined the protest and demanded action against soldiers who allegedly beat up students. The incident happened at about 10 am today when some college students were being frisked by the soldiers…

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Pak rains mortars in Poonch district

Pakistan is paying no heed to the Director General-level agreement between the BSF and its Rangers as its army again pounded posts along the Line of Control in the Balakote and Krishna Ghati (KG) sectors of Poonch district last night and this morning with 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, triggering panic in villages in the forward areas. “There were unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistani army along the LoC in Balakote last evening. Pakistan opened heavy machine gun fire on our posts. The Indian troops retaliated appropriately,” said defence…

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