Five civilians were killed in Pakistani shelling on Sunday morning along the Line of Control in Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, Director General of Police SP Vaid said. Two people who were injured are being treated at a hospital.
The shelling from across the border began around 7.30 am in Balakote area. Mohammad Ramzan, his wife and three sons were killed, while his two daughters were injured. State police chief SP Vaid said Nasreen Kouser and Mahreen Kouser were airlifted and admitted to the government medical college and hospital in Jammu, reported the Hindustan Times.
“They are specifically targeting civilian areas,” Army Public Relations Officer Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said, according to PTI.
“This is highly condemnable,” said Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, according to NDTV. “Pakistan is doing this out of frustration as it is suffering heavy losses in the hands of security forces. The Modi government has allowed unprecedented professional freedom to security forces to to respond in a manner they deem fit.”
The attack comes a day after suspected militants fired at the convoy of police chief in Shopian district. On March 16, three suspected militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Balhama area of Pulwama district.
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