JAMMU, Aug 19: India's army on Thursday alleged that Pakistan had violated a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), accusing it of trying to push militants into occupied Kashmir under the cover of fire.

Pakistan rejected the accusation and sought a meeting of the local commanders to raise the matter of unprovoked firing by Indian troops.

An Indian defence spokesman said military posts in southern Kashmir came under small arms and mortar fire from across the Line of Control in a pre-dawn skirmish with Pakistani troops that lasted around two hours.

“Pakistani troops opened unprovoked firing at Indian posts and targeted several positions in Poonch district,” Lt-Col Biplab Nath said in Jammu.

“Our soldiers retaliated to the firing,” Lt-Col Nath said, adding there were no casualties on the Indian side.

“It is ceasefire violation and it was aimed at infiltrating militants into this side of the Line of Control,” Brigadier S. Dua said.

Pakistan army spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas rejected the allegation, saying Indian troops opened fire without any provocation.

Pakistan immediately sought a meeting between local commanders and the Indian side agreed, he said. Protesters injured:

Clashes between Indian forces and protesters erupted in Srinagar's Rainawari area on Thursday as hundreds of residents defied a curfew.

Police and paramilitary soldiers fired warning shots into the air and tear gas to disperse rock-throwing protesters, said the police officer. There were no casualties.Paramilitary soldiers fired live ammunition to disperse anti-India protesters and wounded three people after residents accused troops of attacking their homes in Indian-held Kashmir on Thursday.

“They came to our homes, broke windows and trained their guns at us,” said resident Mohammed Abdullah. “All of us came out and protested this aggressive and bullying act. But they fired on us.” —Agencies