LoC shelling forces thousands to flee

Pakistan's security forces pummelled civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) with heavy mortar shelling until late on Tuesday, forcing thousands of border dwellers to migrate to safer places.

Sources said that the firing and shelling were so heavy in some border villages in Rajouri and Poonch, that residents could not be evacuated. There have been six ceasefire violations by Pakistan over the last 36 hours.

While no loss of life has been reported so far, the firing has displaced around 2,500 villagers, who have now moved into relief camps established by the district administration.

Pakistani forces fired in Jammu's Nowshera sector at three locations from 5am onwards on Tuesday. Jammu deputy commissioner said that, of the 30-35 designated camps in Akhnoor, five were functional. The Rajouri district administration has identified 72 safe locations for



residents.

Pakistani forces began firing with small arms, sources said, but later shifted to mortars and automatic guns. Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said, "Heavy firing was reported from Kalsian, Jhangar and Makri areas in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district."

In the second ceasefire violation on the same day, Pakistan troops fired 70mm and 120mm mortar shells at forward posts and villages.

Amid clashes and protests, the Valley too remained tense on Tuesday as miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at the Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education at Bemina bypass, and set fire to two auto-rickshaws at Saida Kadal and Baba Demb.

The miscreants attacked the board's office to protest against their announcement of board exams in November 2016. A few youngsters also resorted to stone-pelting after security personnel stopped an "anti-exam" protest by students.