NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Monday fired heavy artillery shells at Indian posts in Jammu and Kashmir in an apparent bid to boost the sagging morale of the militants before the passes freeze next month.
Pakistani troops fired high explosives and incendiary ammunition in forward locations of Kupwara sector Sunday morning, defence ministry said.
India has taken appropriate defensive measures, it said.
According to latest reports, the exchange of fire is continuing.
While exchange of small arms fire across the line of control is a frequent occurrence, Pakistani forces for the first time used heavy artillery on Sunday.
Official sources said’ Pakistan’s action was aimed at raising the morale of the militants, shattered by the arrest of their top leaders and plugging of infiltration routes with the imposition of curfew in a five km belt along the line of control.
The Pakistani firing had come at this time as snow would start falling by the end of next month, closing the passes through which the pak trained militants have been infiltrating, the sources said
Fourteen people, five security men and a Congress (I) cadre, were killed and four security men injured in Punjab on Aug 21.
Gunmen looted Rs.2.50 lakh from a businessman and one man was arrested in the state during the period.
Militants attacked a joint C (RPF and Punjab police patrol party near village Dagn in Tarn Taran police district on Sunday night.
Two security men were wounded in the exchange of fire. Lance Naik Onkar Singh of the 33rd battalion who was seriously injured later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. ASI Baldev Singh was admitted in the hospital.
Police found bullet riddled body of a special police officer Bhagwan Singh from village Ghaghe.
Police also picked up an unidentified bullet riddled body of a youth from the field of village ‘Wadala also in Beas police station area on Sunday night.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 24, 1990
