Army says it has ‘strongly retaliated’ to the unprovoked ceasefire violation

All schools were closed near the International Border (IB) in the Arnia Sector of Jammu on Monday in the wake of ceasefire violations by Pakistan for the fifth time since Thursday night.

A Border Security Force (BSF) spokesman said Pakistani Rangers again started unprovoked firing in the sector at 11 p.m. on Sunday.

“Later, they resorted to 81 mm mortar shelling, which was effectively and strongly retaliated and the enemy fire was suppressed in a few minutes,” said the spokesman.

He said intermittent firing continued till 5.30 a.m. on Monday.

“There was no loss or injury on this side,” said the spokesman.

The authorities closed all schools located within five-kilometres from the border in Arnia on Monday.

The spokesman said around 10 BSF border outposts and 10 villages were targeted in the past four days in Arnia.

One BSF trooper and a civilian were killed in the ceasefire violations in the Jammu region in the past five days. The ceasefire agreement is mainly violated in the night.

Official data puts the number of ceasefire violations at 400 times since 2014.