Pak steps up shelling in Rajouri

In a signal of intensification of shelling south of Pir Panjal, Pakistan has opened up its artillery in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors too. The Army here said they had destroyed two important terrorist launch pads one each in the Poonch and Rajouri sectors in the past 48 hours apart from damaging ‘‘enemy defences’’ along the LoC.

Exchange of artillery and mortar fire took place in Naushera and Sunderbani areas. Two bunkers on the Pak side were destroyed and five Pak soldiers were killed or wounded. The shelling in these sectors had so far been limited to mortars and infantry support weapons. This intensification and use of higher calibre weapons has brought both Poonch and Rajouri sectors in the same league as Siachen, Kargil and Batalik. ‘‘We have destroyed an important terrorist launch pad in Rajouri and another terrorist transit camp in Poonch,’’ highly placed Army sources here said.

Incessant shelling has been continuing not only along the 187-kilometre-long International Border but also along the 740-km-long LoC and 110-km-long Siachen glacier. ‘‘There has been exchange of artillery and mortar fire in Batalik- Kargil and Drass areas. One Pak bunker has been destroyed in Kargil area,’’ an official at the Udhampur-based Northern Command said.

The Army says it has ‘‘actionable intelligence’’ about terrorist movement and camps. ‘‘Pakistan has assured the world it will stop sending terrorists but it is trying to push as many as possible before it is forced to crack down owing to international pressure. We gained intelligence about their move to launch some terrorists in Poonch and Rajouri so we resorted to shelling and destroyed the camps,’’ sources said.