Pak targets civilian areas again, 2 injured; schools shut down

A mortar shell explodes in Balakote sector of Poonch on Wednesday.
A mortar shell explodes in Balakote sector of Poonch on Wednesday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: Two civilians were injured as Pakistan army resorted to heavy mortar shelling in Poonch and Bhimber Gali Sectors on the Line of Control (LoC) this morning forcing authorities to shut down educational institutions falling within shelling and firing range and take steps for protection of the civilians.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan army, after a lull of few days, again resorted to ceasefire violations by firing and shelling, targeting civilian areas in Balakote, Shahpur and surrounding villages in Poonch district at 8.15 am. The Indian side retaliated effectively, leading to heavy exchanges that continued till 10.30 am.
The civilians, who had started working in the fields and children, who had gone to schools, were virtually trapped but the authorities shut down the educational institutions falling within the firing range and shifted students back to houses carefully. However, students of Government Primary School, Basooni were trapped inside for some time in view of continued shelling and firing by Pakistani troops. They too were rescued later and shifted to their houses.
By the time, the civilians could rush back to their houses, two of them were hit by splinters of mortars at village Dharati in Balakote sector and injured. They were evacuated by security personnel and people from the spot and admitted in the hospital.
The injured have been identified as Shamim Begum, 52, wife of Mohammad Majeed R/o Tukh, Dharati, Balakote and Reyaz Ahmad, 26, son of Karamat Hussain R/o Dharati. They were responding to the treatment.
Sources said Pakistan army was directly targeting civilian population and, therefore, the Indian troops had to give very befitting response to them to silence their guns. Pakistan is reported to have suffered damage in retaliatory firing by the Indian army.
During past few days, there had been very negligible ceasefire violation on the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts as Pakistan was targeting civilian areas along the International Border in Ramgarh, Arnia and RS Pura sectors of Samba and Jammu districts. But after suffering heavy damages on the International Border also, where there has been no firing for past four to five days, Pakistan today again shifted the focus towards the Line of Control.
Sources said that a number of civilians in forward villages of Balakote, Shahpur and surroundings had narrow escape in Pakistan shelling and firing as 82mm mortars fell close to their houses or the fields, where they were working. Some of the people remained struck in the fields for about two hours till shelling stopped. They returned to their houses only after the firing stopped completely.
On September 24, two soldiers were injured as Pakistan opened fire at forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Poonch district.
On September 23, Pakistan troops targeted BoPs in Arnia, R S Pura and Ramgarh and Poonch sectors along the IB and LoC in Jammu, Samba and Poonch districts resulting in injuries to seven persons.
Over 25,000 people have left their hamlets along the IB in Arnia and R S Pura sectors due to firing and shelling from across the border.
Meanwhile, Army and police today recovered arms and ammunition from a militant hideout in Thanna Forests of Dessa area in Doda district.
Recoveries made from the hideout included two AK-47 rifles, two Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), two Chinese pistols, two Chinese grenades, four RPG rounds, 300 rounds of AK-47 and certain other items.
However, no arrests were made from the spot.
“Security forces continued their persistent operations to keep Doda district safe and sanitized from terrorists as well as their support infrastructure. Recovery of war like stores from Thana forests of Dessa will deal a severe blow to nefarious designs of terrorists to revive militancy in the area,’’ sources said.

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