Woman killed in Pak shelling in J-K; toll climbs to 6

Jammu, August 16

A woman was killed in heavy firing and mortar bomb shelling by Pakistani troops at several Indian posts and civilian areas on Sunday, raising the death toll to six in multiple ceasefire violations along the LoC in Poonch district overnight.

The Army retaliated effectively and heavy exchanges are going on.

Today is the eight day of continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan, which has resorted to firing and mortar shelling along the LoC in Poonch district since August 9.

The Pakistani Army resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian villages in Poonch and Balakote sectors since this morning, Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

In the heavy mortar shelling, a woman identified as Nussarat Bi died in Behrote village in Balakote sector, a police officer said, adding that very heavy mortar shelling of 82 mm mortars is going on.

With her death, the toll has gone up to six and five other injured.

Of the injured three injured were undergoing treatment in the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu and the rest in Poonch.

There has been heavy firing and mortar shelling going on overnight in Hamirpur, Sujiyan, Mandi sectors along LoC in Poonch.

"We are rushing to the areas to see how people can be evacuated from the shelling and firing zones", Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Nisar Ahmed told PTI.

"Heavy shelling is going on in the area", he said.

There have been 35 violations of the 2003 ceasefire accord in August till yesterday.

On Independence Day yesterday, five civilians, including a sarpanch were killed and five others injured in heavy firing and mortar bomb shelling by Pakistani troops at several Indian posts and civilian areas.

The offensive on I-Day came even as Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying promoting friendly ties between the two neighbours was in mutual interest. —PTI