Exchange of fire near the border with Pakistan have forced authorities to ask schools in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district to stay closed on Friday. Deputy Commissioner Tariq Zargar told Greater Kashmir that institutes have been asked to remain shut because of cross-border firing between the Pakistani and Indian armies.

The Pakistani Army allegedly violated the ceasefire in the Degwar, Karmara and Krishna Ghati sectors of Poonch near the Line of Control. No casualties have been reported so far.

“The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0745 hours in the Krishna Ghati sector along the LoC today,” a defence spokesperson said, according to PTI. “The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively.”

Indian posts and civilian facilities were targeted using mortars, automatics and small arms, the police were quoted as saying by IANS.

Residents of the border areas have been asked to move to safer places, but the police said they were reluctant to leave. People have been unable to leave their homes because of the heavy shelling.

A soldier of the Indian Army and a civilian porter, who worked with the military, were killed in firing by Pakistan in the same area on Thursday. Five soldiers and another porter were injured in the attack.