Indian, Pakistani armies trade fire on LoC

After resorting to indiscriminate heavy shelling and firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistani Army on Tuesday resorted to shelling in Rajouri district's Nowshera sector.

Defense ministry sources said Pakistani Army used small arms, automatics and mortars to target Indian positions in Bhawani Jhanger area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district.

Though civil administration had closed 16 schools indefinitely in areas close to the LoC in Rajouri district, mobile bullet proof bunker vehicles were rushed to rescue children trapped in a building in schools in Nowshera sector.

Heavy firing exchanges between Indian and Pakistan army continued in Nowshera sector when last reports came in, defense sources said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan resorted to indiscriminate shelling and firing on the LoC in two sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, a defense official said.

The Pakistani Army initiated the unprovoked firing in Bhimber Gali and Poonch sectors along the LoC, Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said.

The firing started at 6.45 a.m., using small arms, automatics, and mortars, to which the Indian Army retaliated "strongly and effectively".

The district administration in Rajouri has shut down 16 schools close to the LoC indefinitely. It has also ordered migration of the civilian population to safer places.

The move came after a soldier and a child were killed on Monday in Pakistani shelling on the LoC in Rajouri.

In Uri sector too, a soldier and two civilians were injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan on Monday.