Representative image JAMMU: Five army soldiers were injured and two houses damaged as Pakistani army resorted to heavy mortar shelling on 55 forward areas in Jammu , Rajouri and Poonch districts on Tuesday, officials said, hours after IAF jets struck a JeM terror camp across the LoC. The Pakistani army used heavy weaponry, firing 120-mm mortar targeting civilian hamlets and forward posts since 5.30 pm on Tuesday, they said. They fired from small, automatic and heavy weaponry in Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi areas in Poonch district; Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas in Rajouri; and Pallanwala and Laleali sub sectors in Jammu, officials said. In Akhnoor sector, five soldiers were injured and have been hospitalized, they said. In Mankote sector of Poonch, two houses were damaged, they said. The officials said Indian troops gave a "befitting reply" to the firing. According to officials, more than a dozen cease-fire violations took place on Tuesday — the fourth consecutive day of Pakistan shelling and firing on Indian posts. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan violated ceasefire in Nowshera sector along the Line of Control (LoC), an officer said, adding that locals in the border areas have been asked not to venture out. Panic gripped the border areas and some locals have left their homes and moved to safer areas, multiple reports said. Authorities have ordered a temporary closure of educational institutions in a 5-km radius along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts on Wednesday. Since last Wednesday, Pakistan has violated ceasefire everyday, barring Friday, the officer said. The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations numbering 2,936 by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India, despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during flag meetings between the two sides. Amid mounting tensions between the two countries, following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 and an Indian air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed camp inside Pakistan on Tuesday, people along the LoC and the international border are living in fear.<doc-sep>Pakistan stepped up ceasefire violations after the Indian Air Force's strike on a terror camp in Balakot. Highlights Pakistani troops fired mortar, small arms across Line of Control Sharp escalation of ceasefire violations underway Pakistan Army targeted some 55 civilian hamlets Pakistani troops fired mortar shells and small arms across the Line of Control at several areas in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday in a sharp escalation of ceasefire violations that have been underway for the last three consecutive days. Five Indian soldiers were injured in the Akhnoor sector by Pakistan's shelling. The Indian Army said it was retaliating strongly and had destroyed five Pakistani posts, causing a number of casualties. "Pakistani troops were also seen firing mortars and missiles from civilian houses, using villagers as human shields. However, Indian Army targeted the Pakistani posts away from civilian localities," an army spokesperson said. The shelling began hours after the Indian Air Force bombed a huge Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan's Balakot, across the Line of Control, killing a "very large number of terrorists" according to government officials. The Pakistan Army used heavy weaponry, firing heavy calibre weapons targeting 12 to 15 places in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts since 6:30 pm, the army said in a statement. The sectors targeted include Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi in Poonch district, Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas in Rajouri and Pallanwala and Laleali in Jammu. Pakistan had shelled forward posts in the state's Poonch, Mendhar and Nowshera sectors earlier in the day too, prompting a firm response from the Indian forces. Government officials in Rajouri said because of the heightened tension, schools within 5 km of the Line of Control will be closed and exams will be postponed. The Pakistan army has resorted to firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts on seven of the last eight days. Last year saw the highest number of ceasefire violations - nearly 3,000 - by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire understanding of 2003 despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the agreement during flag meetings between the border-guarding forces of the two countries, the officials said. Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack and increasing ceasefire violations, the people along the Line of Control and the international border in this region are living under constant fear, they said (With inputs from PTI)<doc-sep>The Army on Tuesday said Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and five soldiers were injured. "Post 6:30 p.m., out of anger and frustration, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with heavy calibre weapons in 12 to 15 places all along the LoC," said the Army. He said in exchange of fire five soldiers of Indian Army suffered minor injuries out of which two soldiers were evacuated to military hospital for medical treatment and are stable. "Indian Army retaliated for effect and our focused fire resulted in severe destruction to five posts and number of casualties to Pakistan Army," said the Army. The Army said the Pakistani troops were also seen firing mortars and missiles from civilian houses, using villagers as human shield. Earlier, the Jammu-based Army spokesman, in a statement issued, said ceasefire violations by Pakistan were repoted along the LoC in Akhnoor, Nowshera, Krishna Ghati Sector. "Around 5:30 p.m., Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation by heavy shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC. Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively," said the Army. PTI adds: The Pakistan Army resorted to heavy mortar shelling on 55 forward areas in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts on Tuesday, Army sources said. They targeted civilian hamlets and forward posts from 1730 hours, firing from small, automatic and heavy weaponry in Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi (Poonch district), Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas (Rajouri) and Pallanwala and Laleali (Jammu). There was no injury or loss of life in the ceasefire violations, an officer said. Indian troops gave a “befitting reply,” he said. Officials said more than a dozen ceasefire violations took place on Tuesday — the fourth consecutive day of Pakistan shelling and firing on Indian posts.<doc-sep>JAMMU: Pakistan on Friday heavily shelled areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir 's Rajouri and Poonch districts leaving a woman injured, the eighth consecutive day that it has violated the ceasefire.Officials said Pakistan troops used heavy guns including Howitzer 105 mm to target civilian areas in Poonch. "Pakistani troops resorted to firing and mortar shelling along the LoC in Krishnagati sector and it ended around 0130 hour," an official said.The firing and mortar shelling continued overnight in several sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts, the official said adding the Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively.A woman identified as Naseem Akhtar was injured in the firing in Mankote area of Poonch, officials said. "About 1615 hours Friday, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along LoC in Nowshera sector," the defence public relations officer said.On Thursday, a woman was killed and a jawan was injured when Pakistani Army heavily shelled civilian areas and forward posts in six sectors along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army.The Pakistan Army has violated the ceasefire for over 60 times during the last one week by targeting over 70 civilian and forward areas along the LoC in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, in which one woman was killed and 9 persons were injured.In view of the prevailing situation, authorities have ordered temporary closure of educational institutions in a 5-km radius along the the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.They have asked all border dwellers to remain inside their homes. Amid high tension along the LoC, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh accompanied by the White Knight Corps Commander, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh visited forward posts in Rajouri Sector to review the operational preparedness on Thursday.The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violation, numbering 2,936 by Pakistani troops, in the last 15 years.Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during flag meetings between the two sides.<doc-sep>
Visuals from ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. (Photo: ANI) The Pakistan army Tuesday resorted to heavy mortar shelling on 55 forward areas in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts after IAF jets struck a JeM terror camp across the LoC, army sources said. The Pakistan army used heavy weaponry, firing 120 mm mortars targeting civilian hamlets and forward posts since 1730 hours Tuesday, an army officer told PTI. They fired from small, automatic and heavy weaponry in Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi (Poonch district), Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas (Rajouri) and Pallanwala and Laleali (Jammu), the officer added. There was no injury or loss of life in the ceasefire violations, the officer said, adding that Indian troops gave a "befitting reply" to the firing. According to officials, more than a dozen ceasefire violations took place on Tuesday-- the fourth consecutive day of Pakistan shelling and firing on Indian posts. Earlier in the day, Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Nowshera sector along the Line of Control (LoC), the officer said, adding that locals in the border areas have been asked to not venture out. Panic has gripped the border areas and some locals have left their homes and moved to safer areas, reports said. Since last Wednesday, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire everyday barring Friday, the officer said. The Nowshera sector witnessed unprovoked firing from the Pakistan side for three consecutive days on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Pakistani guns remained silent on Friday but on Thursday ceasefire was violated in Poonch sector while on Wednesday, they initiated unprovoked shelling in Kalal sector of Rajouri district. The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations - 2,936 - by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire understanding of 2003 despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the agreement during flag meetings between the border guarding forces of the two countries, the officials said. Amid mounting tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack and increasing ceasefire violations, the people along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in the region are living under intense fear.