A 33-year-old woman was killed and an Indian Army jawan, currently on leave, received critical injuries in intense cross-border shelling along the Line of Control in Mendhar sector of Poonch on Thursday.
According to field reports, “the woman was sitting in an open area of her house in village Chajjala when a mortar shell landed there causing grievous injuries”. She succumbed to her fatal injuries before being rushed to the hospital.
Police said, “the deceased woman was identified as Amin Akhtar, D/O Mohd Sadiq while Lance Naik Zakir Hussain, S/O Abdul Hameed of Balnoi in Mankote received splinter injuries while he was moving through the lane near his house”. He was referred to Government Medical College hospital in Jammu.
Through out the day the border residents in the area faced brunt of intense shelling as Pakistan escalated tension by targeting several civilian areas.
However, shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan made an announcement to release Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman from its custody the roaring guns stopped firing artillery shells which had triggered panic in the area.
Earlier, Pakistan Air Force jets also attempted to violate air space in Mendhar sector but alert air patrol of the Indian Air Force chased them away and prevented targeting of vital military installations.
According to Defence PRO Lt- Col Devender Anand, "Pakistan initiated 'unprovoked' ceasefire violation at around 6.00 a.m by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms in Krishna Ghati sector". As the day progressed, Pakistan army targeted forward Indian posts in other sectors using heavy calibre weapons. In response the Indian army retaliated strongly and effectively.
Firing in the KG sector was initiated around 1.00 p.m.After about one hour, Kalal and Baba Khori area of Nowshera witnessed heavy shelling. Several local residents in the forward areas remained indoors as they could not move out due to fear of getting caught in the crossfire. In response the Indian side responded strongly and effectively. Tension in the area escalated further around 3.00 p.m after both the sides exchanged heavy volume firing in Sunderbani, Mankote, Khari Karamara and Degwar sectors.