SRINAGAR: A woman was killed and her husband and relative injured as Pakistani troops breached border ceasefire and resorted to firing and mortar shelling on army positions and civilian areas along Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.
A government school was also damaged in the Pakistani troops firing prompting the authorities to close the schools along the LoC for two days.
Defence spokesman in Jammu, Lt Colonel Manish Mehta, said Pakistan army resorted to indiscriminate firing from small arms and automatic weapons on army posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector from 9.40 pm yesterday.
He said the Pakistani troops also fired 82 mm and 120 mm mortar shells.
“The army men deployed along the LoC also retaliated strongly and effectively. The firing continued till this morning,” Mehta said.
Some mortar shells landed in civilian area in Laam area of the Nowshera sector causing damage to some houses.
“A woman identified as Akhtar Bi was killed and after being hit by bullet,” Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Shahid Choudhary told New Indian Express.
He said woman’s husband and other relative were also injured in Pakistani troops firing and shelling.
The DC said the village is very close to LoC and the woman has died of bullet injuries.
The injured have been hospitalized, he said.
Choudhary said a government school was damaged in Pakistani troops firing.
“In view of night-long shelling, the administration closed the schools near the LoC in Nowshera sector for the day,” he said adding the schools within 2 kms radius of Nowshera sector will also remain closed tomorrow as well as a precautionary measure.
According to Choudhary two relief camps have been established for people living close to LoC.
“52 people have arrived at the camp so far,” he said.
He said people have been told that in case the Pakistan shelling takes places tonight also, they should move to safer places.
According to defence sources, two Pakistani army men were injured in the retaliatory firing by Indian army.
They said the aim of Pakistani troops firing and shelling on army posts and civilian areas would have been to push militants into this side of LoC.
“After the recent killing of two soldiers and mutilation of their bodies by Pakistan army’s Border Action Team (BAT) in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district, troops along the LoC have further beefed up vigil and security to foil such attacks and prevent infiltration of militants into the State,” sources said said.
According to Union Home Ministry report, Pakistani troops have violated the border ceasefire along LoC 854 times in last two years.
“In 2016, there were 449 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops as compared to 405 violations in 2015,” it stated.
The report disclosed that 23 security personnel were killed in Pakistani troops firing in two years.