The district administration in Poonch has ordered the closure of schools and offices after five civilians, including four of a family, were killed in Pakistan shelling in Balakote sector on Sudnay morning.
''Schools will remain shut for two days in Balakote sector,'' deputy commissioner of Poonch Tariq Ahmed Zarger told The Week. ''There has been no migration from the area as the people have stayed put.''
Zarger said people of the area don't migrate during tense times.
According to Army spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand, Pakistan started shelling the area in Balakote close to the Line of Control (LoC) at 7.45 am and one of the mortar shells exploded near the veranda of the house of Muhammad Ramzan at Devta Sargloon village at Mendhar tehsil.
Two of his daughters—Nasreen Kousar (11) and Mehreen Kousar (5)—were injured in the incident. They were airlifted to the government hospital in Jammu.
The five who were killed in the shelling include Ramzan (35), his wife Malika Bi (32), his three sons Abdul Rehman (14), Mohammad Rizwan (12) and Razaq Ramzan (7).
According to the Army spokesperson, the shelling continued till 11.30 am.
“Pakistan continues in its cowardly design of targeting innocent civilians, their homes, and livestock in villages close to the Line of Control. The deliberate provocation has resulted in the loss of five precious and innocent civilian lives,” Anand said.
He said the Army effectively retaliated to the ceasefire violations to silence the 'enemy' guns.
The shelling has created fear in Balakote and areas close to the LoC in the sector.
The administration has mobilised staff and kept ambulances and medical teams ready for an emergency.
“Anguished to hear of that five people lost their lives in the crossfire along the LoC in the Balakote sector of Poonch. My deepest condolences to their family” tweeted Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.