Woman killed in Pakistani firing along LoC

A woman was killed after Pakistani troops pounded border outposts (BoPs) and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Reports said a 65-year-old victim was killed after mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops fell in Mendhar area along the LoC on Saturday night. A Defence spokesperson said the Indian Army was retaliating strongly and effectively to the Pakistani firing and shelling.

There has been continuous ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC and International Border (IB) this year. On February 4, four soldiers, including an army officer, were killed and two others injured in the same district due to Pakistani shelling.

Since the third week of January, 20 persons, including 10 security personnel and an equal number of civilians, have been killed in Pakistani ceasefire violations along the LoC and the IB in Jammu.

The continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan forced Army Chief General Bipin Rawat sent a stern message to Pakistan in January, saying it may escalate its offensive against terror groups and carry out the 'other action' if forced by the neighbouring country.

The Indian and Pakistani armies had agreed on a ceasefire along the LoC, the IB and along Actual Ground Position Line at Siachen glacier in November 2003. Although it held good for 10-years, in the last few years, Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire agreement hundreds of times.

India shares a 3,323-km-long border with Pakistan of which 221 km of the IB and 740 km of the LoC fall in Jammu and Kashmir.