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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 7: Pakistan army today again resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote, Mendhar and Mankote sectors in Poonch district causing extensive damage to about a dozen houses while some cattle were killed or injured. The Indian side responded to the shelling very effectively, damaging some Pakistani posts.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan army after shelling Krishna Ghati and Sabjian sectors of Poonch district yesterday, today started shelling with 120mm and 82mm mortars and firing with automatic and semi-automatic weapons in Mendhar, Mankote and Balakote sectors at 9.15 am.
The shelling, which had stopped yesterday at 3.30 pm, was resumed at 9.15 am today. The Indian side gave befitting response to Pakistan shelling, which continued till 1.45 pm.
Sources said about a dozen houses were damaged in Pakistan shelling, seven of them extensively and locals, who had become alert after yesterday’s shelling, had narrow escape as they had taken shelter in the houses and bunkers.
“The people were now becoming alert. As soon as the shelling starts, they rushed towards nearby houses and bunkers to save themselves. This was the reason that there was no casualty in heavy shelling by Pakistan today,” sources said.
However, some cattle were trapped in the shelling. There were reports that one cattle was killed and over a dozen others were injured in Pakistan shelling.
The Indian side retaliated the shelling very effectively and there were reports that half a dozen Pakistani posts across Mendhar had been damaged extensively.
The shelling ceased at 1.45 pm.
Sources said a family of six persons had very narrow escape at Sakhi Maidaan in Mendhar when a mortar shell exploded close to their house. However, since the family was deep inside, they survived. The house was damaged.
Reports said that grass caught fire in some of the villages after mortar shell explosions.
Both Government and private schools along the Line of Control remained closed in view of shelling. People living along the LoC also remained confined to bunkers and houses, leaving the villages mostly deserted.
Yesterday, two Army jawans were killed and five others — two soldiers, a BSF officer, a Special Police Officer (SPO) and a woman — were injured as Pakistani army opened fire in an attempt to facilitate two infiltration bids along the LoC in Krishna Ghati and Poonch sectors of Poonch district. The Indian troops had successfully thwarted the infiltration attempts, forcing militants to retreat to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
There have been over 100 ceasefire violations on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after the surgical strike.
The worst-ever Pakistani shelling targeting civil population took place on November 1 when eight persons, including two children and four women, were killed and 22 others injured along the IB and the LoC in five sectors of J&K, forcing Indian troops to give befitting reply by destroying 14 Pakistani posts and killing two of their troopers.
The State Government had closed over 400 schools along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region in wake of the ongoing heavy cross-border firing.
A total of 18 people, including 12 civilians, have been killed and more than 83 injured in Pakistani shelling and firing along IB and LoC in Jammu.
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