Sexagenarian woman killed in Cross LoC shelling in Balakot

POONCH — India on Wednesday accused Pakistan of killing one woman and injuring another, by resorting to unprovoked shelling in Balakot sector of Poonch district, in which one elderly woman was killed and another injured.

Officials said that intense shelling from across the divide, was part of the chain of ceasefire violations let loose by Pakistani forces in different areas along the LoC.

A 65-year-old woman was killed and another was injured in heavy mortar shelling from across the border, which was responded effectively by Indian side.

An Army officer said that there was an unprovoked small arms firing and shelling along the LoC in Balakote and Mendhar sectors at about 0200 hours. “The Indian Army retaliated befittingly and the firing stopped at about 0245 hours.”

Officials identified the killed sexagenarian woman as Resham Bi wife of Azam Ahmed and the injured 60-year-old woman as Hakam Bi wife of Mohammad Sharif, both residents of Lanjoite, Balakot.

Both were shifted to a nearby hospital, where Resham Bi was declared brought dead, while the injured woman was referred to District Hospital Rajouri for advanced treatment.