Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 30: Pakistan army again resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district this morning, targeting civilian areas, prompting the administration to close educational institutions falling within the firing range.
Official reports said Pakistan violated ceasefire by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing at Kalal, Kalsian, Bhawani and Anwas forward areas of Nowshera sector at 10.30 am. Pakistan was directly targeting the civilian population with mortar shells that led to panic among the border dwellers, who rushed to their houses or bunkers from the fields.
Army retaliated effectively to silence the Pakistani guns and save civilian population, which was being pounded with mortar shells and heavy firearms, sources said, adding that heavy exchanges between the two sides continued for more than two hours.
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In the meantime, the administration ordered closure of educational institutions in the areas, falling within the shelling and firing range, to avert any casualties as some time back, Pakistani troops had targeted educational institutions in the same sector, a result of which many students and teachers were trapped and had to be rescued in bullet-proof bunkers.
However, there were no casualties or major damages on the Indian side in shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops. Pakistan might have suffered some casualties and damages in retaliatory firing by the Indian side but exact details were not available immediately.
Fresh round of shelling by Pakistan army in Nowshera sector came just two days after ceasefire violations by the hostile neighbour at Shahpur, Kirni and surrounding villages of Poonch sector in which five civilians were injured. Troops from this side had retaliated effectively, leading to five casualties on Pakistan side besides infrastructure damages.
Shelling and firing created wave of panic among the villagers living in forward areas of Nowshera sector as mortar shells again landed in the civilian locations. A number of civilians in forward areas of Nowshera sector are still living in the safer areas after their migration in view of Pakistan shelling and firing.
The Battalion Commanders of India and Pakistan had met at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district on August 23 to end ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC). However, within days of the meeting, Pakistan had violated ceasefire in Poonch, injuring five civilians. Today was the second ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector after the meeting between Battalion Commanders of the Army of India and Pakistan.
Nowshera along with other sectors in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch have witnessed sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistani army this year.
Several border residents of Nowshera sector are living in Government set-up relief camps at safer places since July after being displaced by cross-border shelling.
Till August 1, there have been 285 such violations by the Pakistan army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures.
Troops have been maintaining high alert all along the Line of Control in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to take advantage of Pakistan shelling and firing to infiltrate into the Indian territory.
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