DPL, bridge, hospital, houses targeted
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: Pakistan army last night again targeted several areas in Poonch including Poonch town with heavy shelling using long range mortars resulting into death of another civilian and injuries to five besides heavy damage to houses and Government offices. Six civilians were injured in Pak shelling in Rajouri.
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A portion of the District Police Lines (DPL) in heart of the Poonch town caught fire and sustained damage in the shelling. A shell landed on back gate of District Hospital Poonch and fell on vehicles. A couple of shells exploded at Betar bridge but there was no damage.
As per sources, nearly 60 houses besides shops and other structures were also damaged in the shelling.
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A civilian killed in the shelling has been identified as Mohd Abrar, 35, son of Mohd Sharief, a resident of Lohel Bela in Loran tehsil of Mandi.
Injured were identified as Shaida Bi, 22, R/o Loran, Mohd Ashraf of Baila Mandi, Shubam Sharma, 7, R/o Ward No. 2 Poonch, Liaquat Hussain, 35, a resident of Guntarian and Namanpreet Singh of Ward No. 9 Kamsar.
Poonch, Mendhar, Balakot and Ajot besides other forward areas bore brunt of the Pakistani shelling which continued almost throughout the night.
The Indian Army retaliated very effectively causing heavy damage on Pakistan side. However, exact number of casualties of Pakistan army and damage couldn’t be ascertained immediately.
Police teams led by Additional SP Poonch Mohan Sharma engaged in massive rescue operations during the night itself by shifting injured to hospital and people to safer areas in Poonch town and surroundings.
Most of the civilians excepting some elders have shifted to safer areas.
Houses and shops were also damaged in Mendhar and Rajouri areas on the LoC. Six civilians were injured in the shelling in Rajouri.
“Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force,” the ADGPI said on X.
Pakistani forces also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said.
Scores of people have been evacuated from areas along LoC to safer areas in Poonch and Rajouri districts besides Jammu, the officials said adding several of them have been housed in camps.
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