Ceasefire Violation
Miscreants on Tuesday hurled a petrol bomb at the Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education and also torched two auto-rickshaws at Saida Kadal and Baba Demb. [Representational Image]Reuters File

Thousands of citizens residing along the Line of Control were forced to flee after Pakistan indulged in ceasefire violation and heavy mortar shelling late on Tuesday night.

A local journalist was also injured in the shelling that took place in Rajouri's Naushera sector. Firing began around 12.30 am and continued till 11 am.

Pakistan violated ceasefire in Akhnoor sector, Rajouri district and Poonch late in the night. Six ceasefire violations have been carried out by Pakistan in the last 36 hours.

The firing and shelling was so strong that civilians could not be evacuated. No loss of life has been reported so far but around 2500 villagers have been displaced and sent to relief camps set up by the administration, the Times of India reported.

However, the deputy commissioner of Jammu said that only five out of the 30-35 designated camps in Akhnoor were functional. The Rajouri district administration has identified 72 safe locations for civilians.

Defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said, "Heavy firing was reported from Kalsian, Jhangar and Makri areas in Naushera sector of Rajouri district."

Miscreants on Tuesday hurled a petrol bomb at the Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education and also torched two auto-rickshaws at Saida Kadal and Baba Demb. They attacked the board's office to protest against their announcement of board exams in November 2016 with some also resorting to stone-pelting.