A Border Security Force (BSF) officer and a minor girl were killed while as nineteen others including five forces personnel and fourteen civilians were injured in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.A BSF spokesman said that an officer of the inspector rank of Border Security Forces was killed in Pakistan shelling in Poonch area. “Four more personnel injured are out of danger. Further details will be shared subsequently,” he said.A police officer said that the 5-year-old girl was killed, fourteen civilians and four BSF men and an army soldier were injured in the shelling in Mankote, Krishna Ghati, Shahpur, Kerni, and Mendhar sectors.
"The girl died after being hit by a splinter fired by the Pakistan Army," SDPO Mendhar Neeraj Padyar said. The officer identified the slain girl as Sobiya Shafeeq daughter Mohd Shafeeq, a resident of Bandi Chichyan.The officer said that all the injured were evacuated to SDH Mendhar where from the four BSF men and the army soldier were shifted to Army's Command Hospital Udhampur. "Seven among the fourteen injured civilians were referred to Government Medical College Jammu for specialized treatment".When reports last came in the heavy firing exchanges were continuing on the LoC at all these sectors.Authorities have closed all educational institutions close to the LoC following the ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army that began at 7.45 a.m today.According to Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand, the Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and firing of small arms.The Indian troops retaliated effectively, the officer said. (GNS)