Jammu : Pakistani troops on Thursday resorted to shelling on civilian areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, killing a woman and injuring her husband and provoking retaliation by the Indian army in which two Pakistani soldiers were injured.
In the wake of the Pakistani action in Naushera tehsil of Rajouri district, the schools in the area were closed down and an evacuation plan was activated under which over 1200 people from various border hamlets are being shifted to safer places.
“Pakistani Army fired indiscriminately from small arms and automatic weapons from 2240 hours last night on Indian Army posts along the LoC in Naushera belt of Rajouri district,” a defence spokesman said here on Thursday.
The Pakistani Army initiated indiscriminate firing, using small arms, automatic rifles, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, he said. A shell hit a village in Laam belt of Naushera sector this morning, killing 35-year-old Akhtar Bi and injuring her 40-year-old husband Mohmmad Hanief, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajouri, Yugal Manhas said.
Hanief said the couple was sleeping outside their house and “when the shelling and firing started, we went inside the house. After some time, a shell hit our house and both of us were injured.”
His wife died on the way to the hospital, he said.
“We have become the sitting ducks for the target practice of Pakistan troops. They have targeted civilian population. (Indian) Army should give a befitting reply,” Hanief said.
The Indian Army retaliated effectively, injuring two Pakistani jawans, defence sources said.
After the Pakistani shelling, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Nowshera tehsil issued an order, directing closure of all schools in the area as a precautionary measure.
An evacuation plan has been put in place in view of the intermittent shelling and firing along LoC, the officer said.–PTI
