New Delhi: The Indian government on Tuesday suspended cross-border trade to from Poonch to Rawalkot after Trade Facilitation Centre along Line of Control was damaged in heavy shelling by the Pakistan Army.
Since Sunday, Pakistan has been firing mortar shells into Indian territory.
The Trade Facilitation Centre at Chakan da Bagh was damaged on Monday, leading to the suspension of the bus service. An official spokesman told media that schools near the LoC had been closed as a ‘precautionary measure'.
“There was unprovoked firing by the Pakistani Army in the Poonch sector from 6.40 a.m. on Monday with 82 mm mortars and automatic weapons,” he said.
However, there was no report of any casualty.
The Pakistani troops resumed the heavy mortar shelling and automatic weapon firing in the wee hours today after a lull of the ceasefire violation that began yesterday, targeting the Indian posts and civilian areas near the Line of Control, said a defence spokesperson.
“There was unprovoked firing by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector from 0640 hours today with 82 mm mortars and automatic weapons,” said the defence spokesman adding the Pakistani onslaught was ‘befittingly' responded to.
“The Army took position and responded befittingly and an intermittent firing is on presently,” he said adding there has been no casualty on our side.
Summing up the effect of Pakistani shelling, a senior district administration officer said, “The travel on cross-LoC Poonch-Rawalkot bus service was suspended today as precaution due to the shelling by Pakistani troops.”
