Srinagar: Pakistani troops violated ceasefire when it resorted to unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara on Saturday evening, official sources said on Sunday.
They said Pakistani troops violated 2003 ceasefire and resorted to firing with automatic weapons, targeting forward posts and civilian areas on this side of LoC in Keran and Tanghdar sectors in Kupwara on Saturday evening.
Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire continued from 1600 hrs to 2350 hrs on Saturday.
Sources said that Pakistani troops are resorting to firing to help militants to sneak into this side. However, they said troops are on high alert to foil any infiltration bid from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), where a huge number of trained militants are waiting in launching pads to sneak into this side.
Meanwhile, asserting that there was no letup in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC in J&K, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said launching pads in POK remained loaded with militants even during winter.
Mr Singh said a huge number of militants are waiting on launching pads in POK to infiltrate into this side. However, he said troops are alert and prepared to foil any attempts by militants to sneak into this side to create disturbance.
“We have noticed another important thing this winter. The launching pads which militants used to desert during winters following snowfall remained active in Keran and Karnah sector in north Kashmir district of Kupwara. These launching pads during this winter remained active. The activities on the other side of LoC, which used to come down during winter, also remained high as compared to previous years,” he said.
