Two Pak soldiers killed, 14 posts destroyed in retaliation
JAMMU: In an escalation on the border, 8 people, including two children, were killed and 22 injured on Tuesday as Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas here, inviting strong retaliation by Indian forces who killed two Pakistani soldiers and destroyed their 14 posts. The injured included a 18- month-old girl. In view of increased shelling and firing by Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered closure of all the 400 schools along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region. With cross-border firing escalating, Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation at a meeting in Delhi which was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and other top officials. “Five people died and 8 others were injured in the Pakistani shelling in Ramgarh sector of Samba district today,” Deputy Commissioner of Samba Sheetal Nanda told PTI. One person died due to shock during shelling in the same area, raising the toll of those killed in the area to six, she said. The deceased have been identified as 19-year-old Ravinder Kour of Jerda village, 7-year-old Rishap, 5- year-old Abhi, 29-year-old Anju Devi, 60-year-old Meeru Ram of Rangoor village and 32-year-old Swaran Singh of Govindgarh. Along the LoC, two women Sultan Begum and Maqbool Begum were killed in firing and shelling by Pakistani troops in Panjgrian border hamlet in Manjakote belt of Rajouri district on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Bhat said. He said three army porters suffered injuries in the shelling by Pakistani troops in Noushera sector of the district and they have been hospitalised. At 7:10 am on Tuesday, 3 mortar shells landed in border village of Pindi in Arnia sector of Jammu district and injured 4 people, he said. Two women Robiya Kouser (28) and Tasveer Bi (24) were injured in Pakistani shelling in Mendhar sector of Poonch district on Monday evening and have been hospitalised, police said. Army sources said that two Pakistani solidiers were killed in retaliatory firing along LoC opposite to Naushera sector of Rajouri district on Tuesday. Pareek said BSF destroyed 14 posts of Pakistani Rangers in retaliatory action. Pakistani Rangers started firing with small arms, followed by mortar shelling at one place and spread it to 4-5 places in Ramgarh and Arnia sectors of Samba and Jammu district from 6:30 am, BSF DIG said. Over 400 schools have been closed along IB and LOC — 62 in Kathua, 45 in Samba, 174 in Jammu, 30 in Rajouri and 84 in Poonch districts in wake of further escalation in firing and shelling from Pak troops, officials said. (PTI)