2 kids killed as Pak shelling targets border villages

In a fresh flare up of hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, two children were killed and 12 others injured in heavy shelling by the Pakistan Army on forward border villages on Monday.
A BSF jawan too was injured in the Pakistan firing in Rajouri late on Monday evening. Indian side too retaliated strongly in response to “unprovoked” ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army on a day when the entire nation was paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 148th birth anniversary.
According to local reports, the Pakistan Army started shelling soon after border residents finished morning prayers around 6.30 am.
Meanwhile, troops deployed along the LoC and International Border across Jammu frontier remained in a state of high alert to prevent any infiltration bid by trained terrorists from across the LoC or International Border. Small groups of infiltrators were reportedly camping across different launching pads to infiltrate into the Indian territory.
The BSF too had thwarted designs of the Pakistan Rangers to push infiltrators through the cross border tunnel to carry out terror strikes during the festive season in Jammu region.
The deceased children identified as Asrar Ahmad (10) of Mohalla Kasba and Yasmina Akhtar (15) of village Digwar in Poonch were in their houses when mortar shells landed in the vicinity injuring them fatally.
Two seriously injured villagers, including a five-year-old minor girl, were airlifted to Jammu Medical college hospital amid continuous shelling in the forward area. Her intestines were ruptured due to splinter injuries.
Another injured, identified as 25-year-old Mohd Rafiq became a victim of Pakistan shelling when he was returning from the Kashmir valley to get back to his village.  Eyewitness reports claimed he lost over three dozen goats in the shelling and sustained injuries and was hospitalised .Two other injured were rushed to Jammu via road as they needed advance treatment due to serious splinter injuries.
“We were getting ready to start our day when shells started landing in our village”, a border resident of village Kasba told reporters in Jammu medical college hospital. He was with five-year-old Zobia Kousar who is currently battling for her life in the GMC, Jammu.
Panic stricken residents in the forward areas remained stranded inside their houses. Local residents claimed at least one dozen houses in different villages of Kerni, Kasba bore maximum brunt of Pak shelling.
The villagers blamed the State Government for failing to construct bunkers in the forward areas to ensure their safety and security.
Chief Minister, Mehbboba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh expressed grief over the killing of minors during cross LoC shelling in Poonch.
“It is very unfortunate that these teenagers became victims of fire power when they were yet to understand the nuances of politics”, Chief Minister said in her statement.