Pakistan continues heavy shelling along border

Pakistani troops’ continued heavy shelling and firing on border outposts (BoPs) and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir injured a civilian on Tuesday.

Reports said besides shelling in Poonch, Pakistani troops also pounded civilian areas and military positions along the International Border (IB) in the Jammu district since Monday night.

A civilian identified as Subhash Chander was reportedly injured in the ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers in the IB’s R S Pura sector.

Officials said Pakistani troops targeted 15 BoPs and 35 civilian hamlets from Balakot to Mankot in Poonch and the Manjakot sector in Rajouri along the LoC since Monday night, creating fresh panic among the people, some of whom had migrated to safer areas during the day.

Like the previous days, Pakistani troops were directly targeting civilian in the villages and towns, with some mortar shells landing in areas 4 km away from the border, they said.
Eyewitnesses told Deccan Herald over the phone that panic-stricken people in the forward areas have become sitting ducks for Pakistan, as 120-mm and 82-mm mortar shells almost directly falling on their houses.

“The people have taken shelter inside their houses with lights switched off. As soon the shelling began, authorities announced asked people via loud-speaker-fitted vehicles to stay indoors,” they said.

Heavy shelling was going on in several sectors when reports last came in, with Indian troops giving strong reply to Pakistan's aggression. All educational institutions in Balakot reportedly remained closed in view of the heavy shelling.