4 children injured in Pak firing in Poonch’s Balakote sector, 1 critical

An army official said Pakistan soldiers had deliberately targeted villagers in the Balakote sector in Poonch.

At least four children were injured as Pakistani army targeted villages along the Line of Control in Balakote sector, Jammu’s Poonch district on Saturday.

A local looks from inside a window of his home at Qasba village near the Line of Control in Poonch, on October 3, 2017. (AP File Photo)

“There are reports of four civilians getting wounded in Basauni-Sandot village and a girl is critical,” said a defence official.

The injured have been identified as Tahira Naseeb (17), Tariq Naseeb (17), Rafia Naseeb (7), and Saquib Naseeb ( 5). The injured were shifted to primary health centre at Dhargloon in Poonch, including Tahira who has been critically injured.

The official said Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 7:45 pm in Bhimber Gali sector along the LoC, deliberately targeting villages of Basauni and Sandot in Balakote area.

The spokesman said the unprovoked firing and condemnable action by Pakistani Army had caused serious injuries to the civilians, and added that army was retaliating.

Firing was still on at the time this report was filed.