Srinagar: The Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident took place when personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles came under fire while carrying out operational activities in the area. According to officials, troops of the 6 Rashtriya Rifles were installing advanced surveillance cameras in the Keran Bala area to enhance border security and eliminate blind spots along the LoC.
“During the installation process, Pakistani troops fired two rounds of small-arms ammunition in an attempt to disrupt the deployment of surveillance equipment,” an official said. “Indian forces responded with a single calibrated shot. There were no casualties reported on either side,” he added.
Following the brief exchange of fire, the Indian Army launched a cordon and search operation in the surrounding dense forest area, suspecting that the firing may have been intended to provide cover for a possible infiltration attempt.
Officials noted that the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers have repeatedly violated the ceasefire along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, either to facilitate the infiltration of terrorists into the Union Territory or to hinder the installation of surveillance infrastructure along the border.
Jammu and Kashmir shares a 740-kilometre-long LoC passing through the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora in the Kashmir Valley, and Poonch, Rajouri, and parts of Jammu district in the Jammu division. The 240-kilometre-long International Border runs through the Samba, Kathua, and Jammu districts.
The LoC is guarded by the Indian Army, while the International Border is manned by the Border Security Force (BSF). Their responsibilities include preventing infiltration, checking cross-border smuggling, and countering drone-based activities originating from across the border.
In the hinterland, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with other security agencies, conduct counter-terrorism operations targeting terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers.
With inputs from IANS