BSF personnel patrol along IB – File Pic
Srinagar: At least two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured on Saturday as India and Pakistan troops traded mortar shells and gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.
Constables C.H Manohar and Riyaz Ahmed of BSF 72 battalion received splinter injuries on Saturday evening when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by unprovoked firing and mortar shelling along the LoC in Mendhar area of Poonch district, officials said.
Manohar, who sustained injury on right side of chest and Ahmed was hit by a splinter in his left hand, the officials said were removed to the health facility for treatment.
The cross-border shelling between the two sides was continuing when last reports were received, officials said.
Meanwhile, the army officials accused Pakistani troops of targeting civilian areas with mortar shells along the LoC and the International Border.
Indian troops retaliated befittingly to silence the Pakistani guns, they said, adding there was no immediate report of any casualty.
“At about 1.30 am, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars, targeting civilian areas along the LoC in Mankote sector of Poonch. The Indian Army retaliated befittingly,” a defence spokesman said Saturday morning.
A police official said the heavy shelling created panic among the border residents.
The shelling stopped around 4.30 am, the official said.
The police official said Pakistani rangers also targeted forward areas along the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district and kept firing intermittently for about five hours.
The firing from the Pakistani side of the IB started around 11.45 pm on Friday and continued till 4.40 am Saturday, he said, adding the Border Security Force (BSF) retaliated strongly to the ceasefire violation.
A 40-year-old woman, Hamida Bi, was injured in Pakistani shelling in Qasba sector of Poonch on Friday, the official said, adding her condition was stated to be stable .
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Rahul Yadav visited the district hospital and and inquired about the health of Hamida, an official spokesman said.
Yadav, who was accompanied by tehsildar of Haveli Anjum Khatak, directed the doctors to provide her best possible treatment, he said.
Yadav provided a financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to the injured woman out of the Red Cross Fund, the spokesman said.
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