Five soldiers injured as Pak resorts to heavy shelling along LoC in J&K

Five soldiers injured as Pak resorts to heavy shelling along LoC in J&K

Press Trust of India  |  Jammu 

Five Army soldiers were injured and two houses damaged as resorted to heavy mortar shelling on 55 forward areas in Jammu, and districts on Tuesday, officials said, hours after IAF jets struck a JeM terror camp across the LoC.

They fired from small, automatic and heavy weaponry in Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi areas in district; Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, and areas in Rajouri; and Pallanwala and Laleali sub sectors in Jammu, officials said.

In Akhnoor sector, five soldiers were injured and have been hospitalized, they said.

In Mankote sector of Poonch, two houses were damaged, they said.

The officials said Indian troops gave a "befitting reply" to the firing.

According to officials, more than a dozen cease-fire violations took place on Tuesday the fourth consecutive day of shelling and firing on Indian posts.

Earlier Tuesday, violated ceasefire in Nowshera sector along the Line of Control (LoC), an said, adding that locals in the border areas have been asked to not venture out.

Panic gripped the border areas and some locals have left their homes and moved to safer areas, multiple reports said.

Authorities have ordered a temporary closure of educational institutions in a 5-km radius along the LoC in and districts on Wednesday.

Since last Wednesday, has violated ceasefire everyday, barring Friday, the said.

The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations numbering 2,936 by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border.

Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India, despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during flag meetings between the two sides.

Amid mounting tensions between the two countries, following the Pulwama terror attack on Feb 14 and an Indian air strike on inside Pakistan Tuesday, people along the LoC and the International Border are living in fear.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, February 26 2019. 22:45 IST