Shyam Sood

A woman was killed and a soldier and two women were critically injured as the Pakistani army shelled civilian areas and forward posts in Mendhar and Nowshera sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts on Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as 33-year-old Naseem Akhter, a resident of Chajla, Mendhar. The injured were identified as Lance Naik Zakir Hussain, who was reportedly on leave; Naseem Akhter, a resident of Nar Mankot, and Kailash Devi of Kalsian, Nowshera.

Hussain, who is serving in the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and posted in Kashmir, was injured when a mortar shell landed near his house at Balnoi village. “After initial treatment at the sub-district hospital at Mendhar, Hussain, who suffered grievous injuries in legs and arms, was referred to the Army hospital at Rajouri for the specialised treatment,” said Dr Parvaiz Ahmed Khan, BMO, Mendhar.

Lt Col Davender Anand, PRO defence, said the Pakistani army had initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling mortars in the KG sector at 6 am and again around 1 pm, at 2 pm in the Nowshera sector, at 3 pm in Sunderbani, Mankot, Khari Karmara, Degwar along the LoC. “The Army retaliated strongly,” he said.

A day after Pakistan jets were pushed back before targeting any major Army installations in Rajouri and Poonch districts by the IAF, the Pakistani army has been targeting forward posts and civilian areas with heavy mortar shelling and firing. The areas affected by the Pakistan shelling include Krishna Ghati (KG), Degwar, Mankot and Balakot in Poonch and Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian and Sunderbani in Rajouri.

Truce broken in Nowshera sector

Lt Col Davender Anand, PRO defence, said the Pakistan army had initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling mortars in the KG sector at 6 am and again around 1 pm, at 2 pm in the Nowshera sector, at 3 pm in Sunderbani, Mankot, Khari Karmara, Degwar along the LoC. “The Army retaliated strongly and effectively,” he said.