NEW DELHI, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- A civilian was wounded in an overnight skirmish between the troops of India and Pakistan on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said Tuesday.
The two sides targeted each other's positions and civilian areas on Monday night in frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"The Pakistani troops last night resorted to intense shelling and firing along LoC in Shahpur Kirni and Balakote, triggering panic among civilians. One civilian Mohammed Showkat was wounded in the firing and he was immediately removed to the hospital," a local government official said.
Indian army posted in the area duly retaliated to the firing from Pakistan side and the exchange continued for several hours.
"Army retaliated in a befitting manner," the spokesman said.
Last week two people were killed and seven others wounded in a similar exchange in the area.
So far there were no reports of damage on the Pakistani side.
There has been a sharp increase in cease-fire violations along LoC and International Border (IB) in Kashmir during the past four months. The heavy firing and shelling have triggered panic among the residents along the LoC, many of whom have migrated to safer places. Recent skirmishes claimed lives of civilians and troopers on both sides of the divide.
According to official data, this year over 2000 cease-fire violations were recorded in Kashmir so far.
New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. And both sides maintain their troops gave befitting reply to the other side.
