KOCHI: Indian Defence Minister, Ak Antony said Monday that the country’s armed forces were free to respond to the situation at the Line of Control (LoC). "The armed forces have freedom to respond to the developing situation there appropriately," Antony told reporters. Relations between New Delhi and Islamabad have deteriorated at the border after India accused the Pakistan army of killing five soldiers at the LoC. Following the incident India has violated the ceasefire repeatedly. Earlier on Monday, Indian forces opened unprovoked firing and shelling in Charikot, Battal and Satwal sectors. Sources said that a mortar shell fired by Indian troops hit a house in Donga Gambhir in which a youth was martyred. On Sunday, Indian Border Security Force (BSF) fired at a Pakistan Rangers check post in Sialkot and in Nakial sector near Kotli, military officials said. Kashmiri’s have also protested against the unprovoked firing by Indian forces at LoC. A protest rally led by Prime Minister Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and submitted a memorandum at the UN Military Observers’ Mission.