SRINAGAR: There has been no let up in firing and shelling along Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistani troops targeting army positions and civilian areas in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on Wednesday. A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of army succumbed to injuries sustained by him in yesterday’s firing.
Defence spokesman in Jammu, Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistani troops breached border ceasefire and resorted to unprovoked firing and mortar shelling on army positions and civilian areas in Bhimber Gali (BG) sector in Poonch district from 8.45 am.
He said Pakistan Army also targeted army positions and civilian areas with small arms and automatic weapons and mortars from 11.45 am in Poonch sector of Poonch district.
Mehta said the army men also effectively returned the fire in both the sectors.
Defence sources said the Pakistani troops also resorted to heavy mortar shelling at Dhar, Lambibari area of upper Rajdhani in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district.
They said the Pakistani troops also fired on civilian areas in Balakote and Sandote sectors.
A civilian was injured after mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops landed near his house in Sandote hamlet along the LoC, an official said.
He said the injured civilian has been hospitalized.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Shahid Choudhary said 10-12 mortar shells landed in premises of primary schools at Koltra and Kote Dhar area in Manjkote sector.
There were no injuries or casualties in the shelling as administration had shut most of the schools in border areas, which witnessed heavy shelling yesterday, for indefinite period .
Shahid said Government Primary School, Kadali in Nowshera sector of Rajouri was damaged in the Pakistani troops shelling.
He said 12 students were rescued in the swift action by security forces.
The near daily Pakistani troops firing and shelling has caused fear psychosis among border residents in Poonch and Rajouri and many have moved to safer places.
“About 852 families comprising 3411 persons are residing in five relief camps in Rajouri,” an official said.
He said in view of repeated ceasefire violations, three more buildings have been earmarked as relief camps in the border district.
The Pakistani troops also breached border ceasefire in Nowgam sector in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district this evening.
The Pakistani troops fired on army positions from light machine guns and mortar shells, defence sources said.
They said the army men were also effectively returning the fire from similar caliber weapons.
Meanwhile, JCO Subedar Shashi Kumar, who was grievously injured in Pakistani troops firing in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district yesterday, succumbed to injuries at Command Hospital , Udhampur today.
Kumar was a resident of village Galon, Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. He is survived by wife Ms Santosh Sharma and children.
“Subedar Kumar was a brave and sincere soldier. He loved his job to the core. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the defence spokesman said.