2 jawans of BSF hurt fresh firing by Pakistan

Srinagar: Two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured and a cowshed was destroyed in fresh cross-LoC shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Tuesday.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Vivendra Anand told reporters in Jammu that the Indian troops retaliated “strongly and effectively” to “unprovoked” shelling by the Pakistan army in Poonch’s Bhimber Gali and Balakot areas.

He said the Pakistani troops fired automatic weapons and also mortar guns to target the Indian forward positions and civilian areas, resulting in minor injuries to two BSF jawans whereas a cowshed was completely destroyed. He said that the Pakistani firing started at 8.50 am and continued intermittently during rest of the day.

Cross-LoC shelling was reported also from neighbouring Rajouri district. Rajouri’s DC Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that the civilian areas where mortar shells from across the border landed causing panic among residents. However, no casualties were reported.

Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen. D. Anbu on Tuesday visited the Kashmir Valley to review the prevailing security situation amidst heightened tensions along the LoC.