Jammu: Pakistani army violated the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and resorted to unprovoked firing at Indian positions, an official said yesterday.
The incident took place in Poonch district late on Friday.
“Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked firing at our positions in Bhimber Ghali area of the LoC late on Friday,” defence spokesman Colonel Manish Mehta said here.
“Pakistani firing started at 10.30pm yesterday (Friday). They used small arms and automatics. Our troops responded effectively with same calibre weapons.
“No damage or casualty has been reported from our side till last reports came in,” the spokesman added.
Pakistan has been violating the bilateral ceasefire agreement signed between India and Pakistan in November 2003.
Indian army and intelligence officials say ceasefire violations are made to facilitate infiltration of armed guerrillas into the Indian side of the LoC.
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi yesterday said the state government was ready to declare the state drought-hit as it has become a stark reality.
“If there is no rainfall in the next two or three days, the government will declare the state drought-hit any time after August 15,” Manjhi told the media here.
Manjhi said that weather experts and agriculture scientists had advised the government to wait till next week for rainfall before declaring the state drought-hit.
A.K. Sen, Director of the Patna office of the Indian Meteorological Department, said 60 percent of the districts in the state were facing 40 to 60 percent deficit in rainfall. An overall 29 percent deficit in rainfall till date has affected paddy sowing and plantation in the state.
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