Srinagar: A woman was killed and two of her family members injured after Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling in areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of north Kashmir, officials said on Friday.
They said the Indian Army has responded proportionately to the Pakistani aggression.
Officials said Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC and resorted to heavy shelling in civilian areas in the Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday night.
Multiple areas of Uri, including Silikot, Boniyar, Kamalkote, Mohra and Gingle, were targeted with heavy shelling that damaged several structures and forced people to flee, they added.
Officials said three members of a family were injured when a shell hit their car near Mohra while they were trying to move to safety. They were rushed to a hospital where a woman, identified as Nargis Begum, succumbed to injuries, the officials said.
Later on Friday, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Gouhalan and Chotali, Tourna Post of the Uri sector, the officials said.
“Heavy ceasefire violations started at Chotali, Tourna Post, and Gouhalan areas of Uri. Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked heavy firing at Indian posts and civilian areas,” they added.
However, there are no reports of any casualties so far in these areas.
Meanwhile, a villager was killed and three others were injured in shelling by Pakistan in forward areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts early Friday morning, prompting Army troops to retaliate.
A series of high-intensity blasts between 3:50 am and 4:45 am triggered an immediate blackout and sounding of sirens, officials said.
Videos from the pre-dawn hours showed drones and other flying objects in the Jammu region being neutralised by the air defence system.
The firing and shelling were directed at areas in Rajouri, Poonch, and Jammu districts, apart from Kashmir’s Kupwara and Baramulla districts, overnight.
One person was killed and three others, including his wife, were injured in Pakistani shelling in different areas of Loran and Mendhar sectors of Poonch district, the officials said. The injured were shifted to hospital.
The shelling also caused significant damage to property, with many houses and hundreds of vehicles affected, they said.
The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Abrar of Loran area. Among the injured includes Layaqat Hussain of Chalery area of Mendhar.
“Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force,” the ADGPI said on X.
Earlier, in a post on X, the Deputy Commissioner of Jammu urged residents to stay calm. “Please remain calm. Do not panic,” he said.
All schools, colleges, and universities have been closed in the region in the wake of the situation arising from the attacks by Pakistan in the Jammu region.
In light of the prevailing security situation along the Line of Control (LoC), Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Vikas Kundal, and Senior Superintendent of Police, Shafket Hussain, visited the Mangnar area to assess and reinforce security measures.
They conducted a comprehensive on-ground review of force deployment, assessed operational preparedness, and engaged with field personnel to ensure seamless coordination in maintaining peace and public safety, officials said.
Scores of people have been evacuated from areas along LoC to safer areas in Poonch abd Rajouri districts besides Jammu, they said adding several of them have been housed in camps.
As many as 15 Indians lost their lives and 43 were injured in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Tangdhar regions as Pakistan resorted to arbitrary firing and heavy shelling along the Line of Control and the International Border late on Tuesday night, the Army said.
