Jammu, Feb 27: In a fresh ceasefire violation, the Pakistan Army on Tuesday targeted a government school near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir's Rajouri. Over 100 children were reportedly trapped in the school when the firing began from across the border.
No injuries or casualties were reported by the time his report was first published. Reports claimed the Indian Army launched retaliatory fire to the unprovoked shelling from Pakistan.
Reacting to the incident, former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah said the turbulence at border will continue until talks are not initiated from both the sides. "This is a terrible incident. But are only school children under threat? Constantly men and women on both sides of the de-facto border are living under threat," he told reporters.
"Our soldiers are facing threat to their lives. isn't their well being the responsibility of the governments? Why can't India and Pakistan talk and restore peace," the National Conference president added.
The PDP, senior partner of the coalition government in J&K, also called for talks to resolve the turbulence at the border.
"The only way to restrict such acts of Pakistan is to engage in a dialogue with them. They are responsible for the turbulent condition on the borders, their militants have ruptured peace in the Valley. Even our party workers are being killed by them," said PDP spokesperson Waheed-ur-Rahman.
Defence expert Raj Kandyan said the targeting of a school is an unprecedented step taken by the Pakistan Army, "which is even against its own standards". "No professional military in the world would ever take such a step," he said while speaking to a news channel.
The fresh ceasefire violation comes in the backdrop of the Pakistani forces resorting to heaviest shelling in North Kashmir's Uri sector in the past 14 years.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2018 01:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).