LoC: Woman with two children killed, husband critically hurt in Pakistan shelling

While the country was celebrating the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan, three members of a family were killed and another injured injured as Pakistani forces heavily shelled areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Friday.

Pakistani forces targeted civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy guns, including Howitzer 105 mm, officials said, adding that Indian forces retaliated effectively.

In the heavy shelling, three members of a family were killed and another was injured in Salotri village of Poonch district, where shells hit several houses, they said.

Twenty-four-year-old Rubeena Kosar and her son Fazan (5) and nine-month-old daughter Shabnam were killed in the shelling. Rubeena's husband Mohammad Yunis was critically injured, they said.

Amid shelling, more than 300 families have reportedly moved away from the village.

In violation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India, Pakistani forces have been shelling areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts for eight consecutive days.

On Thursday, a woman was killed and five others including a jawan injured when Pakistani Army heavily shelled civilian areas and forward posts in six sectors along the LoC in 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.

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.