Srinagar: Eight people were killed and 22 injured when Pakistan troops heavily shelled border hamlets and posts with mortar bombs along the International Border (IB) and the LoC in Samba, Jammu, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday. Two women were killed and 13 others injured during shelling with 82 and 120 mm mortar bombs in Rajouri, Jammu, Poonch districts. Army sources said two Pakistani soldiers have been killed opposite to Noushera sector along the LoC in Rajouri district.
“Five people died and nine others were injured in the shelling in Ramgarh sector of Samba district today,” Deputy Commissioner Samba, Sheetal Nanda said. “One persons died due to shock during shelling in the same area taking the total of those killed to six,” she said. While three of the injured were given treatment in Ramgarh hospital, the rest were shifted to GMC hospital in Jammu, she said. The casulaties took place during shelling in Jarda and Rangoor camp villages along the IB in Ramgarh sector.
Along the LOC, two women were killed in firing and shelling by Pakistani troops in Panjgrian border hamlet in Manjakote belt of Rajouri district, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Bhat said. He said three army porters suffered injuries in the shelling in Noushera sector of the district and they have been hospitalised.
Pakistani shells landed in Mendhar town of Poonch district, injuring three people, police said. A total of 18 people, including 12 civilians, have been killed and more than 80 suffered injured in Pakistani shelling and firing along IB and LoC in Jammu since surgical strikes against terror launch pads by the Indian Army in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir. 174 schools in the border belt of Jammu district have been closed by the authorities in wake of the Pakistani shelling.
At 0710 hours, three mortar shells landed in border village of Pindi in Arnia sector of Jammu district, injuring four persons who were identified as Bodraj (44), Niky, Dharana Devi and Chanchla Devi (49), Bhat said. Shelling is on in some areas, he added. One person is believed to have suffered injuries in Balakote sector in the shelling. Two women, Robiya Kouser (28) and Tasveer Bi (24), were injured in Mendhar sector of Poonch district last evening and have been hospitalised, police said.
“Pakistani Rangers started firing with small arms followed by mortars at one place and further spread to four or five places in Ramgarh and Arnia sectors of Samba and Jammu district from 0630 hours,” DIG BSF (G) Dharmendra Pareek said. They fired 82 mm mortar bombs intermittently, Pareek said, adding, BSF gave them a befitting reply.
Pakistani troops indulged in unprovoked ceasefire violation along the Line of Control in Naushera sector of Rajouri district from 0530 to 0900 hours using small arms, automatics, 82 and 120 mm mortars, PRO Defence Lt Col Manish Mehta said, adding, firing is underway.
There have been more that 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB in the state since the surgical strikes. Monday, an elderly woman and a soldier were killed and a girl and two armymen were injured in cross-LoC shelling and firing by Pakistani troops in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
