Seven civilians, including two children, were killed and eight others injured when Pakistani Rangers resorted to heavy shelling in Samba district and Balakote area of Mendhar in Poonch district today.
Among the deceased, six civilians were killed in Ramgarh area of Samba district.
Earlier in the morning, an 18-year-old girl, identified as Rajinder Kaur, from Jerda village in Ramgarh sector of Samba district was killed in the firing.
A police official said that Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked, indiscriminate firing along the International Border (IB) in Samba and also violated ceasefire in Naushera sector in Rajouri district.
“Pakistani troops resorted to indiscriminate targeting of civilian and defence facilities in Ramgarh sector,” the official said.
“The BSF is retaliating effectively and heavy shelling and firing exchanges are going on,” the official added.
Meanwhile, an encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Bandipora area. Three suspected Lashkar terrorists are holding up in Ajar village in Bandipora.
Search operations are underway and the entire area has been cordoned off, an official informed.
Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra Kumar had yesterday expressed concern over the increasing infiltration bids and the lurking possibility of the ultras having sneaked into the state.
He had also asked the security agencies to remain extremely vigilant at the border areas and the hinterland.
Kumar, who visited the border areas of Jammu, asked police and BSF officers to remain extremely vigilant both at the borders as well as in the hinterland to foil the designs of the terrorists to disturb peace and tranquility in Jammu region.
There has been a spurt in firing and shelling from Pakistan in the past few weeks.
There have been more that 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control and International Border since the Army's surgical strikes on September 29 in PoK targeting terror launch pads.
