3 civilians reported injured as Pak resorts to heavy shelling along LoC

JAMMU: At least three civilians were reported to have been injured as the Pakistan army violated ceasefire and resorted to artillery shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, besides stepping up the cross-fire in Kashmir's Uri sector as well on Wednesday.
The injuries to civilians could not be verified immediately with the army officials.
"At about 1730 hours Pak army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing of small arms and shelling with mortars & artillery along LoC in Shahpur & Kirni sectors in district Poonch on Wednesday," a defence spokesperson said.
This is for the first time that artillery has been used to target forward posts and villages along the LoC, he said, adding that Indian Army is retaliating befittingly.
However, defence sources informed that three civilians received injuries in the Pakistani firing which was continuing till midnight when this report was filed.
“The injured civilians have been shifted to District Hospital for treatment,” the sources said, adding that heavy firing by Pakistani troops has created a sense of fear among the villagers who have rushed to the nearby bunkers for safety.
Meanwhile, fifteen people belonging to three families on Wednesday fled their houses in Silikote area in Kashmir's Uri sector, claiming there was intense shelling from across the LoC by Pakistani troops.
Officials at the headquarter of Army's 15 Corps, which guards the LoC in Kashmir valley, said they had no information about ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Uri sector.
An official at the camp informed, "We have received 15 people from Silikote at the makeshift camp in Uri town this morning."
He said the residents of Silikote claimed that there was intense shelling by Pakistani troops from across the Line of Control during Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
"They also reported that several houses were damaged in the shelling," he said, adding that the claims of the residents who had taken shelter at the camp were being verified by officials.