Elderly woman, soldier killed in Pakistan shelling

An elderly woman and a soldier were killed and a girl and two armymen were injured on Monday in cross-LoC shelling and firing by Pakistani troops in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The woman identified as 60-year-old Rasheeda Bi was killed while her 22-year-old daughter Najma was injured in Pakistani shelling on Goulad village of Mendhar in Poonch district, police said.

A soldier Rifleman Bimal Tamang, aged 20, was killed in Pakistani shelling in Rajouri sector along the Line of Control (LoC), army said.

“Ceasefire violations in Rajouri sector being retaliated with massive fire assault,” spokesman of the Army s Northern Command said.

Rasheeda Bi is the second woman in Goulad village in Balakote sector to die in Pakistani shelling.

Earlier on October 28, Usma Bi, aged 50 years, was killed in shelling by Pakistani troops on Goulad village.

On Monday morning, Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling on the Indian positions and the civilian villages in the Balakote, Mankote belts of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district, an army officer said.

“Pakistani troops indulged in unprovoked ceasefire violation from 900 am in the Balakote sector using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars, automatic and small arms,” the officer said.

He said Indian troops responded appropriately and befittingly.

Pakistani troops also violated ceasefire in several areas of Rajouri district this afternoon, the officer said.

There was a lull along the International Border (IB) since 9 AM today after ceasefire violations by Pakistani Rangers on Sunday.

There have been more that 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB in the state since surgical strikes against terror launch pads by the Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on September 29.

13 people, including three civilians, and eight security personnel were killed and over 40 people, mostly civilians were injured in the incidents.