BSF officer, minor girl killed in J&K's Poonch as Pakistan violates ceasefire for fourth consecutive day

Mortar shells have landed in different villages of Qasba, Mankote, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur, forcing the people to stay indoors, they said, adding that all the schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed as a precautionary measure.

An Indian army soldier looks towards the Pakistani side on the Indian side of Line of Control (LOC). FILE PIC/AFP.

New Delhi: A BSF officer and a minor girl were killed in intensified mortar shelling by Pakistani troops which resorted to a brazen violation of the ceasefire along LoC in Poonch district. Six houses suffered damages as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, sparking panic among border residents. Pakistan’s offensive continued for the fourth consecutive day violating the ceasefire in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. BSF inspector T. Alex Lalminlun succumbed to injuries.  Sobia (5) was killed and two persons suffered injuries when a shell exploded near their house in a village in Shahpur sub-sector late Monday afternoon Monday, officials said. Eleven persons, including six soldiers, were injured, officials told news agency PTI. The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals. A defence spokesperson quoted by PTI said Pakistan violated the ceasefire around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch district. "The Indian Army is retaliating," the spokesperson said. The officials said panic gripped the residents as Pakistan heavily shelled forward posts and targeted civilian areas at over a dozen places. Mortar shells have landed in different villages of Qasba, Mankote, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur, forcing the people to stay indoors, they said, adding that all the schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed as a precautionary measure.