Army used artillery guns to ‘destroy’ Pak posts across LoC

New Delhi:Indian Army had used artillery guns to destroy four Pakistani posts in a massive assault across the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district last month, government sources said today.

This is the first time the government sources have confirmed that artillary fire was indeed used by the Army to launch a massive assault against Pakistan, something which was always suspected.

It is the first case of artillery fire at the LoC since the 2003 ceasefire agreement was signed between the two countries.

They said artillery guns were stealthy moved up and used in straight fire position to raze four positions of Pakistan army to avenge the mutilation of an Indian Army jawan’s body by some suspected militants few days ago.

Violating ceasefire, Pakistan had been firing 120 mm heavy mortars to target Indian civilian areas, to which India had responded strongly.

Defence sources said while ceasefire violations by Pakistan was a regular feature “the intensity had never been so hard in the recent past.”

Meanwhile, on the One Rank One Pension issue, sources said that 95 per cent of the cases have been “satisfactorily” resolved.

Documents of around 96,000 ex-servicemen were missing, due to which the payment for some has been delayed, they said, adding remaining cases would be resolved in two months time.

Pakistan violates ceasefire 99 times on LoC post-surgical strike

Jammu:Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire 99 times along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting Indian posts and civilian areas, after the surgical strike by the army on PoK-based terrorist launching pads.

“Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir 99 times after the surgical strike by Indian Army troops on terror launch pads in PoK,” a senior Army officer today.

The officer said there have been 83 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu region falling under 16 Corps area.

As many as 16 ceasefire violations have been recorded along the LoC in Kashmir region falling under 15 corps area, he said.

The worst-ever Pakistani shelling targeting civil population took place on November 1 when eight persons, including two children and four women, were killed and 22 others injured along the IB and the LoC in five sectors of J&K, forcing Indian troops to give befitting reply by destroying 14 Pakistani posts and killing two of their troopers.

The state government had closed over 400 schools along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region in wake of the ongoing heavy cross-border firing.

A total of 18 people, including 12 civilians, were killed and more than 83 suffered injuries in Pakistani shelling and firing along IB and LoC in Jammu.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Wednesday asked the army personnel posted along the Line of Control to remain alert and give a befitting response to any “misadventure” from across the border.

“While complimenting their valour and fortitude, which Parrikar said was the entire nation’s pride, he also impressed upon the soldiers to remain in a very high state of alert to give a befitting response to any misadventure from across,” the officer said.

31 schools, 110 govt buildings damaged in Kashmir

New Delhi:As many as 31 schools and 110 government buildings have been damaged in Kashmir Valley since the current unrest began four months ago.

Among the schools, which were set ablaze by unknown persons, 25 were government-run, two private and four were run by trusts or other social organisations, official sources said.

Out of the 110 government buildings, 65 were either completely gutted or partially burnt down and 55 were damaged through “other means”.

Over the past few months, miscreants burnt down schools across the Valley which is in the grip of unrest following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

Amid outrage over the issue, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court took suo motu cognisance of this development and asked the state government to take steps to prevent such incidents and “unmask” to culprits.

The Centre had also earlier this week asked the Mehbooba Mufti government to check such attempts and make efforts for reopening the schools which have been closed since July 9. PTI