Heavy Pak shelling ups tension in Rajouri

Tensions mounted along the forward villages of Manjakote sector in Rajouri district following heavy shelling by the Pakistan army since early Tuesday morning.

Several forward villages in the area were badly affected in the continuous exchange of fire which started around 8.45 a.m. As large number of border residents remained  stranded inside their houses livestock bore maximum brunt of firing in the area.

Indian army is learnt to have given befitting reply to the Pakistan army by launching punitive assaults deep inside their territory. The exact nature of damages caused on the other side of the line of control was not known immediately.

So far around 400 incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported along the line of control since January 1 this  year. Pakistan army has suffered huge losses in retaliatory fire by the Indian army.

Large number of schools in the area also came under the direct line of fire forcing the district administration to close down the schools.Moving swiftly the school authorities rushed minor children to safety.

District administration immediately announced closure of 72 schools in the forward areas  and rushed senior State Government functionaries to organise all possible logistics support on ground zero for the affected population in the area.

DC Rajouri Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary tweeted, "Shelling reported in Tarkundi gali, lambi bari , khorinar, Dhar & PanjgrIn area of Manjakote in Rajouri".

Defence PRO in Jammu Lt Col Devendra Anand said, Pakistan army initiated’unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms,automatics and mortars from 8.45 a.m  in BG sector. Lt Col-Anand said, Indian army is retaliating strongly and effectively".

Meanwhile, the Indian army remained in a state of high alert to prevent any BAT strike by the Pakistan army under the cover of heavy exchange of firing in another sector.