Two minor children along with their mother were killed as mortars fired by Pakistan troops in the wee hours on Saturday exploded in their house in the Salotri village of Poonch district of Jammu.

Mohammad Younis, father of the children, was seriously injured. Seven others, including three Army personnel, were injured in separate incidents of unprovoked shelling by Pakistan troops.

The killed have been identified as Shazia Kousar of 3 years, Mohammad Shaban of 4 years and their mother Rubina aged 25 years.

Two Army personnel, including a Major rank officer, A Vajpayee and Havaldar Ajay were injured as Pakistan troops also targeted an Indian Army post at Jallas. They have been shifted to the military hospital.

Pakistan troops again targeted Indian positions at 4 am injuring an Army’s Grenadier Gaurav Khokhar. He has been admitted to the military hospital at Poonch.

Three civilian members of a family were injured as Pakistan troops heavily shelled with mortars the Mankote village of Poonch this morning. Among the injured were two siblings, Azad Ahmad and Zahida. Their mother, Zarina, was also wounded.

Army posts in the area were also targeted.

Pakistan troops targeted civilian houses also in the Basooni village. Residential houses of Mohammad Khaliq and Mohammad Ikhlaq were completely damaged as mortars hit their dwellings.

Indian Army was retaliating strongly and effectively.

Army spokesman, Lt. Colonel Devender Anand, said that Pakistan troops continued with “nefarious designes” and at about 12.30 pm again initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along LoC in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri district. Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively, he added.

Meanwhile, three houses were damaged as an IED planted on a road by terrorists to trap security forces in Tral area of South Kashmir went off.

Read | CRPF Inspector, 3 policemen killed; CRPF commandant among 8 injured in Handwara encounter

On Friday evening, a CRPF officer and three policemen were killed when one of the two terrorists, presumed killed in an encounter in Handwara, got up and started firing at the security forces.

A commandant of CRPF and seven other security force personnel were injured in the encounter.