Two killed, 3 injured as Pakistan violates ceasefire in J-K’s Nowshera

Mangalore Today News Network

Jammu, May 13, 2017: At least two civilians were killed and three injured in heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Saturday morning, officials said.

Rajouri deputy commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary confirmed the casualties. The identities were not immediately known.

This was the third ceasefire violation along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir in past three days.

“Heavy cross-border shelling started in border villages Khori, Dhanaka, Ganaih, Kalsian Bhawani, Sarya, Jhangar and Khamba at 7.30am on Saturday,” Choudhary told Hindustan Times.


The three persons were injured in Jhangar and were being taken to Nowshera.

Choudhary said that 96 more people arrived at relief camps late Friday evening.

“The district administration is evacuating people from the affected villages,” he added.

The deputy commissioner along with senior superintendent of police (SSP) Yougal Manhas and other senior officers from health, animal husbandry, power, and essential services departments rushed to the affected areas to facilitate evacuation.

Choudhary has also ordered the closure of nearly 50 schools located along the border in Nowshera for an indefinite period.

Earlier, defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said, “Pakistani Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 0715 hours along the Line of Control in Nowshera sector.”

The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. Firing is presently on, he added.

On Thursday, Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Nowshera, following which two Pakistan Army soldiers were injured in retaliatory firing from the Indian side.

Many families from border villages in Nowshera left their homes on Friday following indiscriminate shelling by Pakistani troops.

On Friday, a BSF jawan suffered minor injuries when Pakistani Rangers violated the ceasefire in Arnia area in Jammu district. BSF troops retaliated.

On May 10 and 11, Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and firing of automatic weapons on civilian areas near the LoC, killing a woman and injuring two people including husband of the deceased woman.

Courtesy: Hindustantimes