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Journalism of Courage
After six months,tension between India and Pakistan along the LoC in Nangi Tikri area of Poonch seems to be building up once again. Over the last fortnight,troops on both sides have been exchanging small to medium weapons fire at intermittent intervals.
On Tuesday afternoon,the troops exchanged small arms fire. Defence ministry spokesperson S N Acharya said unprovoked fire came from Pakistan around 1.10 pm. The Indian side retaliated and the exchange continued till 2.30 pm,he said. On Monday night,Pakistan troops had resorted to small arms fire at two forward Indian locations in the same area. The unprovoked firing last for 10 minutes but the Indian side did not retaliate.
Sources said since June 1 there has been a spike in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Poonch sector. This is being seen as attempts by Pakistan troops to push armed militants across the LoC. Sources said ISI are desperate to push armed militants this summer to areas where peace has been restored. Four days ago,a junior commissioned officer was killed in firing at Saujian in Mandi sector.
Ceasefire violations in Nangi Tikri area comes after Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked small arms and mortar fire in Uri sector,in which a Brigadier and two soldiers were injured. The Indian side had retaliated to the firing then.
Firing is being witnessed in those areas that had seen heightened tension following shelling by Pakistan troops in Uri and beheading of two Indian soldiers early this year. Cross LoC travel and trade were suspended for nearly a month after the incident.
