Woman, 2 jawans killed, 8 injured as Pak troops target villages, border posts

Dozens of families start migrating to safer places because of the shelling

A woman and two army jawans were killed and 11 other people injured on Saturday in Pakistani shelling along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba and Kathua districts, police said.

The woman identified as 45-year-old Toshi Devi, a resident of Mangu Chak village in Samba district, was injured in the shelling and succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

The 11 injured were being treated in the same hospital in Jammu, a police officer told IANS.

The shelling forced scores of villagers to migrate.

Reports from the border villages of Manyari, Paansar, Bobia, Londi, Sadechak, Chailari, Chachwal, Mangu Chak, Regaal, Mawa, Sadho and Chak Fakira said dozens of families started migrating to safer places because of the shelling.

"Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and heavy firing and mortar shelling on posts and civilian areas along IB in Samba and Kathua districts since 2130 hours last night," Inspector General of BSF Rakesh Sharma told PTI.

"BSF troops gave a befitting reply, resulting in exchanges which stopped at 3 am in the morning," the IG said, adding that Pakistan again started mortar shelling and firing at civilian areas since 7 am and it is going on intermittently.