Srinagar, Jan 20: At least two civilians and one Army jawan were killed as Pakistan violated ceasefire along the International Border -- at Poonch, Akhnoor and R S Pura, Kanachak and Pargwal sectors -- on Saturday.

The deceased civilians - identified as Ghara Ram of Kapurpur and Ghara Singh - were killed in the R S Pura sector, whereas, one Army jawan, identified as 23-year-old Sepoy Mandeep Singh, suffered fatal injuries in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, reports said.

The Border Security Force (BSF) launched a stiff retaliation, destroying Pakistan's POL (Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants) and ammunition dump opposite to the Pargwal and Suchetgarh sectors. At least four Pakistani Rangers were killed in the BSF action, reported The Indian Express.

The J&K state government has instructed civilians within the five-kilometre range of the IB to remain indoors, as the cross-border firing is likely to continue. All schools and shops were ordered to remain closed. People in the sensitive sectors of R S Pura, Ramgarh and Arnia have vacated their houses and temporarily shifted to nearby regions of Jammu.

The fresh round of ceasefire violations comes in the backdrop of heavy unprovoked firing by Pakistan on Wednesday, which claimed the lives of three civilians, two BSF personnel and one Army jawan on the Indian side.

Reports, however, claim that the number of casualties could had been higher in the retaliatory action by India, as the Pakistani mosques near the border regions gave back-to-back calls for namaz-e-janaza or the funeral prayers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 20, 2018 12:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).