5 killed in multiple ceasefire violations by Islamabad .
Jammu : In a new flare-up in border tensions, Pakistani troops on Saturday resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling at Indian posts and civilian areas, killing five civilians including a sarpanch in multiple ceasefire violations along the LoC in Poonch district.
An Army official said the Indian troops retaliated strongly, as the exchange of heavy gunfire continued intermittently in the night after Pakistan continued to violate ceasefire for the seventh consecutive day in Jammu region with at least four violations reported in four sectors in Poonch, about 200 km from here.
A senior police official said five civilians were also injured while unofficial reports put the number at 22.
The offensive on Indian positions in Jammu region came as the country celebrated the 69th Independence Day and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying promoting friendly ties between the two neighbours was in mutual interest. The National Security Advisors (NSA) of the two countries are also due to meet in New Delhi on August 23.
Three civilians died when the car in which they were travelling was hit by a mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops in Balakote sector and exploded, a senior police officer said.
The dead were identified by police as Karamat Hussain, who is sarpanch of Basoni, Abdul Rahman, a government teacher, and Mohd. Sheeraz, a 17-year-old boy.
A large crowd which had assembled at the spot also came under Pakistani fire and at least five civilians were injured, the officer said.
The injured were airlifted to the Government Medical College hospital here and one of them, who was identified as Mohd. Amin, succumbed to his injuries.
A nine-year-old boy identified as Moin Khan was killed during the Pakistani firing in Hamirpur sector, police said.
