Travel and trade between India and Pakistan through Chakan-da-Bagh was suspended on March 13 as the Pakistani troops continued unprovoked firing of mortars in the Poonch sector and were also targeting the travel and trade felicitation centre. They were indiscriminately firing 82 mm mortars and resorting to firing with automatic weapons even on civilian areas.

The felicitation centre was damaged last evening as the Pakistani troops directly targeted it. The felicitation centre is the backbone of visitors from both sides of the LoC and also the trade.

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Deputy commissioner of Poonch district said that travel and trade through Chakan-da-Bagh has been suspended and further decision will be taken keeping in view the situation.

This is for the first time that the Pakistani troops have directly targeted the travel and trade centre on the LoC. Travel through the centre takes place once a week on Monday and trade is allowed on two days on Tuesday and Friday.

The felicitation centre building was damaged with mortars and its walls bore signs of bullets.

Lt.Col.Maneesh Mehta, army spokesperson, said that Pakistani troops continued to fire mortar shells in the poonch sector for the second day today. They opened fire at Indian positions at 6.45 am and intermittent shelling was continuing.

Pakistani troops had targeted several areas in the Krishna Ghati area on Sunday and also the travel and trade centre at Chakan-da-Bagh which was opened in 2005.

On the other hand, terrorists kidnapped a former sarpanch Fayaz Ahmad from his residence in Kakapora village of Pulwama and later his bulletridden body was recovered by the police at Chew Kalan.

Police said that the terrorists have been identified and would be tracked down soon.

It is worth mentioning that the separatists have given a call for boycott of the coming panchayat elections and killing of Fayaz by terrorists is being viewed as a warning to the potential candidates who might be planning to contest the elections. Lot of bloodshed was witnessed also during the previous panchayat elections in the state.