JOIN USIn the wake of continuous shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, authorities on Friday ordered shutting down of educational institutions in the district till further orders.
Reports said that Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling, targeting Indian forward posts and border hamlets along the LoC in Poonch sector for the third consecutive day, Friday, leaving an army personnel injured.
"They (Pakistani troops) used mortars, automatics and small arms to target our positions in Digwar, Shahpur, Khari, Karmara and Malti areas," an army official said and added that the Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively.
"The schools have been closed as a precautionary measure as there has been escalation in shelling and firing on the border since Thursday," an official said.
In some areas, the school campuses have been designated as temporary camps for migrants from border areas.
In July this year, more than 100 students were trapped inside two schools in Nowshera sector of Poonch after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire.
The children had to be later rescued in bullet proof bunkers by the security forces.
The ceasefire violations and sniper attacks by Pakistani troops have been on rise since last several months. 600 ceasefire violations have been reported till the start of this month in which nine civilians and 16 security personnel have been killed.
The number of violations was significantly less at 228 for the entire 2016, according to Army figures.