Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 25: Pakistan Army pounded Manjakote and Keri sectors in Rajouri district for second consecutive day as a number of mortar and UBGL shells and rockets fell in the civilian areas while there was no let up in ceasefire violations at Balakote and Mendhar sectors in Poonch district.
At least eight posts and bunkers of Pakistan Army have been destroyed at Nakyal in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) falling opposite Balakote sector while Pakistan claimed its two civilians were killed and four others were injured at Nakyal and Dadot. Pakistan Army has also started constructing new bunkers along the LoC opposite Balakote and Mendhar sectors.
The firing intensified today in almost entire Poonch sector with both sides using have caliber weapons.
Official sources told the Excelsior that 20 mortars, 15 rockets and four shells of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) landed in civilians areas at Kanga Gali, Tarkundi Gali, Baryani Gali and Dorimal in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district, where heavy exchange of shelling and firing between the two Armies continued almost throughout the day, leading to panic among the people.
Pakistan Army also pounded Chiti Bakri and all surrounding villages in Keri sector of Rajouri district today.
Sources said there was panic among the people living in all villages along the LoC at Manjakote and Keri sectors, where the Pakistan Army had opened a new front yesterday after heavy exchanges in entire Poonch sector for past about 20 days.
SSP Rajouri Mubassir Latifi said the situation in forward villages of Manjakote and Keri sectors was well under control though there was panic among the villagers after heavy shelling by Pakistan Army since last night that continued till late this evening. He added that local police officers were in touch with the villagers and have assured them full protection.
“Though panicky, the people were staying in their villages,’’ sources said.
They added that the people in Manjakote and Balakote, the border villages which shared boundaries with each other despite being in Rajouri and Poonch districts respectively were worried as some mortar shells and rockets have not exploded after landing in civil areas or close to populated villages. However, Army has been defusing such shells safely, wherever found to ensure that the villages did not touch them, leading to explosion and casualties.
Deputy Commissioner, Kotli (PoK) Masood-ur-Rehman today claimed in a media report that a woman was killed and two civilians were injured in shelling and firing on their side at forward village of Nakyal last night while another woman was killed at Dadot opposite Balakote. Nakyal is located opposite Mendhar sector.
Sources here didn’t confirm any civilian casualties in Nakyal or Dadot saying the civilians might have been killed in abandoned shell explosions. They said Indian Army was not targeting civilian areas of Pakistan. Contrary to it, Pakistan Army was directly pounding forward Indian villages in which eight civilians have so far been injured—seven in Poonch and one in Rajouri.
Sources confirmed that at least eight Pakistani posts and bunkers have been destroyed in Nakyal. The posts destroyed by the Indian Army were directly targeting the civilian population on this side of the LoC in Mendhar and Balakote sectors.
Pakistan Army was now engaged in construction of new bunkers opposite Mendhar and Balakote sectors to hide themselves from the effective retaliation of the Indian troops.
Two cattle today perished in Pakistan firing at forward village of Basooni in Mendhar and Balakote. A number of cattle of the people have been killed in Pakistan firing and shelling while several houses have been destroyed.
Sources said Indian Army has been responding very effectively in Manjakote and Keri sectors of Rajouri districts, where firing and shelling raged since last evening. When the reports last came in this evening, the exchange of firing and shelling was on.
Pakistan Army started heavy firing in Mendhar sector at 3 am early today. Heavy firearms and mortar shells were used. Indian side responded with equal caliber weapons. In Balakote sector, the firing which started at 7 pm last night continued till 10.30 pm.
No casualties or damage was reported on Indian side in today’s firing and shelling. A boy was injured in Pakistan firing at Chiti Bakri in Keri sector of Rajouri district yesterday.
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