Jammu, Indian troops posted along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan were shelled from across the border Thursday morning, army officials here said.

Five mortar rounds were fired from across the LoC at Indian positions in the Nowshera sector, about 120 km north of Jammu. No one was hurt, defence spokesperson Lt. Col. S.D. Goswami told reporters.

While he did not comment on whether the firing was from militants or Pakistani troops, sources here indicated that it was the latter.

Last month, India had lodged a strong protest against the unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and Defence Minister A.K. Antony had urged Islamabad to respect the ceasefire that has been in place since 2003.

In a statement issued in New Delhi, Antony said: "Pakistan must fully respect the ceasefire agreed to between the two sides and adhere to the already existing mechanism" to deal with border violations.

An Indian soldier, identified as Sepoy Mahesh Kumar of the 22 Rajput Regiment, and four Pakistani troops were killed in the firing after a group of 10-12 soldiers intruded into Indian territory in the Nowgom area of north Kashmir. The July 29 firings were the most serious truce violation in the past five years and came in the wake of 18 other violations by Pakistani troops since January.

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