Heavy firing exchanges on LoC in J&K's Poonch

Jammu, July 5 (IANS) Pakistan resorted to unprovoked shelling on the line of control (LoC) on Sunday in Jammu & Kashmir's Poonch district.Defence ministry spokesman Colonel Devender Anand said, "At about 7.45 p.m. today Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Balakote sector of Poonch district."The Indian Army is retaliating".Reports from the area said heavy firing exchanges are going on between the two sides.Pakistan has violated the bilateral ceasefire on the LoC and the international border in J&K, over 2,400 times so far this year.Frequent shelling from across the LoC has thrown the lives of hundreds of border dwellers out of gear.The residents of border villages live under constant fear of losing their lives, homes and cattle because of indiscriminate firing on defence and civilian facilities by Pakistani troops.
--IANS sq/kr