Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 8 : Thirteen civilians lost their lives in Poonch while a total of 59 people, 44 of them in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir have sustained injuries due to ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC), the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.
The External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of the MEA shared the information.
The intense shelling by the Pakistani army along the LoC came in retaliation for the May 7 'Operation Sindoor' in which India's armed forces targeted a total of nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Pakistan has been resorting to unprovoked small arms ceasefire after Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam Terror attack.
A civilian living in the border areas after the destruction due to continued ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army said that they want peace in the country.
While speaking to ANI, one of the villagers talked about the incident suffered by the locals, saying, " We came outside when we heard sounds of shelling around 3 am today. There is only smoke and damage here now...We want peace."
Another civilian who has suffered damage to his property said, "The action taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Pakistan is very good. We request the government to help us, as my son's house is damaged."
The civilian establishments in one of the villages along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir have suffered serious damage in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in the Akhnoor sector, families living near the Line of Control (LoC) have been forced to leave their homes once again due to ongoing cross-border firing and to take shelter at safer places.
Ajit Singh, a resident of Palatnagarh village, which is just 200 metres from the Pakistani border, recalled past experiences.
"Bullets have hit our homes. In 2016, seven walls of my house were damaged. The government gave us 4.5 acres of land, and we built new homes with their help," he said.
"When firing starts, people leave the village. Once it stops, they return to the farm. Even animals get scared," he added.
Singh said they were recently advised to evacuate. "Yesterday, we met the BLO (Block level officer). They told us to leave immediately. We walked until we saw a vehicle and spent the night here with our children," he said, referring to their current temporary shelter.
He recalled being displaced during the Kargil war in 1999. "We were sent to camps then. Later, we were told this place would be safe. Now, five or six families from my village stay here."
Singh said more than 20 people, including six families, took shelter last night. "It was cold at first, but better now," he added.
The local administration monitors the situation and has arranged temporary relief for the displaced families.
The Indian Armed Forces targeted nine locations in deep areas of Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday morning. They launched strikes on several terrorist camps in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.