Ceasefire violation: Anger against targeting civilians conveyed, says Vikas Swarup

New Delhi: Making it clear that India will not take the ceasefire violations lying down, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup, said that India has launched a protest with the Pakistani authorities.

Swarup said “Anil Wadhwa (MEA Secy,East) has lodged a protest and conveyed our anger at the unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops since August 8. Particularly with regard to incidents of yesterday & today in Poonch that saw systematic targeting of our civilian population.”

“Issue of continued unprovoked firing by Pakistan since August 8,has been raised on several occasions at DGMO level. Assurances were also received from Pak military authorities that firing will stop & their troops would be instructed accordingly,” he said.

Read: Six killed, 15 injured as Pakistan continues to violate ceasefire

A woman was killed and five persons were injured on Sunday as Pakistani troops intensified shelling on border posts and civilian area in Poonch and Rajouri in continued ceasefire violations that have claimed six lives in two days, drawing strong protest from India.

There were ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Poonch, Sujiyan, Balakote, Hamirpur and Mandi sectors along the Line of Control in Poonch district for the eighth consecutive day.

Read: Ghulam Nabi Azad condemns civilian killings by Pakistan, calls it un-Islamic

35-year-old Nussarat Begum died in the shelling in Behrote village in Balakote sector, where two persons were injured, officials said.

Three persons were today injured in ceasefire violations in Manjakot in Rajouri, they said, adding six persons had died and 10 were injured in the shelling and firing since Saturday. 

Read: Pakistan should stop inflicting miseries on J&K: Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed

External Affairs Ministry today summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the ceasefire violations. Basit, who was summoned by Secretary-East Anil Wadhwa, later accused India of ceasefire violations and said a more effective mechanism to determine who indulges in the "unprovoked firing".

Read: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan continues for fifth day, targets Indian posts and civilian areas

Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said that Pakistani Army indulged in "heavy firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian villages in five sectors in Poonch since this morning."

Army retaliated effectively and heavy exchanges are going on. A police officer said that 82 mm mortars were being fired by Pakistani troops in which Nussarat was killed.

32-year old Mustaq Ahmed was also injured in Sujiyan area and has been hospitalised, he said. Due to continuous shelling from across in the border belt, burial of those killed in the firing could not take place, locals said.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mendhar, Sher Singh said people in the border areas have been asked to stay indoor. "We are trying to identify safer places to shift the people," he said.