Schools closed as truce along LoC breached

JAMMU: After a day's lull, Pakistan on Friday morning again violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch-forcing closure of schools in the area, while it also resorted to heavy firing on forward posts in Khour belt of Akhnoor sector in Jammu district on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, in which an Army Jawan is reported to have received minor injuries.
Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing and shelling along the LoC in Poonch sector, drawing heavy retaliation from the Indian Army, an official said.
"Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0745 hours in Poonch sector along the Line of Control (LoC)," a senior Army officer said.
Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively and the firing was on till noon, he said.
In a precautionary measure, schools along the LoC Poonch district were shut down due to shelling from the Pakistani side, a senior district official said.
Both government and private institutions along the LoC in Shahpur, Kandi and other areas of Poonch have been closed, the official said.
"As per the directions of Deputy Commissioner Poonch, due to heavy shelling in various sectors of the districts, all the government and private schools falling under the firing range shall remain closed today," the official order read.
Meanwhile, in another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops fired on forward posts along the LoC in Khour belt of Akhnoor sector last night to which Indian troops gave a befitting reply, the officer said.
An Army jawan sustained minor injuries in the exchange of fire, he said.
On Wednesday, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch sector.
On November 2, a BSF jawan was killed when Pakistani Rangers attacked a patrol party along the International Border in Samba district.
A girl was injured when Pakistani troops opened fire from small arms along the LoC in Karmara belt of Poonch district on October 31.
On October 18, eight civilians, including a two-year-old child, were injured in heavy Pakistani shelling in the district.