While peace is gradually returning along the Line of Actual Control in the eastern Ladakh sector,however, the situation remains tense along the line of control in areas South of Pir Panjal.
A 60 year old woman lost her life in an incident of 'unprovoked' ceasefire violation along the line of control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch while another woman received serious injuries in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Meanwhile, two more civilians received injuries in a separate incident of ceasefire violation reported along the LoC in Tangdhar sector of North Kashmir's Kupwara district.
According to the police, "the deceased woman has been identified as Resham Bi w/o Mohd Azam of village Sagra and the injured woman was identified as Hakam Bi W/O of Mohd Shareef of Lanjote village".
Defence PRO in Jammu, Lt-Col Devender Anand said, "at about 2.00 a.m Pakistan initiated 'unprovoked' ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along the LoC in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch". He said the Indian army retaliated befittingly. According to reports, intense shelling continued for about 45 minutes after which it was stopped.
According to ground reports during intense shelling, which started around 2.00 a.m, one of the shells landed in Lanjote village where one of the women received splinter injuries on her left leg. Another woman, who also stepped out of the house to save livestock, lost her life as another shell exploded in her close vicinity. According to the local villagers she died on the spot.The villagers had to struggle hard to shift the injured woman to a Sub district hospital in Mendhar from where she was shifted to GMC Rajouri after providing her first aid treatment.
In GMC Rajouri, Medical Officer Dr Mansoor Ahmad said, "the injured woman had received splinter injuries on her left leg and before operating upon her they were trying to resuscitate her. He said when she was admitted in the hospital her pulse, BP was not recordable.
For the last couple of days, the local residents of Mendhar tehsil are spending sleepless nights following intense exchange of mortar shelling in the forward areas.
In strong retaliatory action, Indian army had inflicted heavy damages across the line of control. According to local reports, at least four Pakistani soldiers were killed in these pinpointed strikes across the line of control in the last one week.
In a separate incident of ceasefire violation in Tangdhar Sector, two civilians also received splinter injuries.
According to defence spokesman, "Pakistan army initiated ceasefire violation in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara by firing mortars and other weapons". "Befitting response is being given. Two civilians were injured,he added.