Pak again targets 2 primary schools in Rajouri, one injured
VIOLATION One civilian injured in attack; Tuesday attack’s injured jawan succumbs to injuries
JAMMU: With no let up in truce violations, Pakistan’s army on Wednesday opened heavy fire on Indian posts and forward villages along the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, wounding a civilian.
The injured man was identified as Raza of Sandote.
Meanwhile, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) Shashi Kumar, belonging to Ghaloon village of Hamirpur, who was injured grievously in Pak shelling in Nowshera sector of Rajouri on Tuesday, also succumbed to his injuries at a garrison hospital.
However, the Indian Army has not come out with any official statement on the death of the JCO yet. Jammu and Kashmir Police posted on its twitter account, “JCO Shashi Kumar, who was injured yesterday in border firing by Pakistan at Kalal, Nowshera and was under treatment, succumbed today”. A senior officer also confirmed the news.
Another soldier, sepoy Jaspreet Singh, was also killed in cross-border shelling in Kalsian in Nowshera sector on Tuesday.
Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 8.45 am and 11.45 am along the Line of Control (LoC) in BG sector in Rajouri and Poonch districts. “The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively,” he said.
Rajouri deputy commissioner (DC) Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told Hindustan Times over phone that Pakistan again shot 10 to 12 mortars on two primary schools in Klotra and Kote Dhar in Manjakote area of Rajouri district on Wednesday.
“Schools were already shut in this sector two days back. There were no adverse reports. At least 3,411 people are putting up in five relief camps in Nowshera town,” he said.
Over 8,000 people including 3,000 in Naushera and 5,000 in Manjakote-Rajdhani-Panjgrain-Naika have been affected by the Pakistan shelling in the past two days.
TUESDAY’S TALE
Amidst the Pakistani shelling, authorities rescued 217 students and 15 teachers from different government schools along the LoC in Rajouri district on Tuesday. The students were ferried in bullet-proof vehicles.
Two Indian Army soldiers were also killed by Pakistan in shelling and firing at Indian positions at the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera and Nowgam on Tuesday.
Col Mehta said wreath laying ceremony of Sepoy Jaspreet Singh was performed with full military honours in Rajouri and his mortal remains were brought to Jammu in an advanced light helicopter, from where they were taken to Srinagar where mortal remains of an army officer had to be boarded.
Jaspreet is survived by his father Sarwan Singh. He hailed form Talwandi Mallian village in Dharamkot tehsil of Moga district in neighbouring Punjab.
The Pakistan Army also shelled areas in Balakote, Dhar, Lambibari, Rajdhani, Mankote, Sandote in Rajouri and Poonch districts since early Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, trans-LoC trade and travel remained suspended for the second straight week.