BSF man killed in Pakistan shelling

Singh succumbed to his injuries hours after he was injured. They added that the deceased was from Kheri Sapala in Haryana’s Rohtak district. He is survived by his wife, Sunita Devi, three sons and mother. A civilian, Abdul Aziz, was wounded in shelling at Dharana in Poonch district.

Sources said that the Army was retaliating and inflicting heavy damage on the Pakistan side. “It (shelling) is being responded to and will be responded to appropriately,’’ a source said.

The cross-border shelling has escalated since Saturday after a one-day lull. An Army soldier and a BSF personnel were among three people wounded in heavy mortar shelling at Nowshera, Sunderbani and Pallanwala on Saturday.

A number of houses were damaged as well when Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas and forced evacuation of residents from half-a-dozen villages.

The fresh ceasefire violations have forced the government to order closure of schools in Balakote and postpone exams in areas along the LoC. “Fresh dates for these exams will be announced later,’’ said Mendhar Sub Divisional Magistrate Thakur Sher Singh.