Srinagar/New Delhi: After a day’s lull, Indian and Pakistan border guards again traded small arms and mortar fire along the international border (IB) in J&K’s Samba and Kathua districts Monday, leaving a Border Security Force jawan dead.

In New Delhi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar lashed out at Pakistan, saying the ceasefire violations were an attempt to “divert attention” after the “rude shock it got in Peshawar” (from Taliban militants who massacred innocent children in a barbaric terror attack on a Pakistan Army school).

He also said Pakistan was trying to push in “unwanted elements” across the LoC, an obvious reference to Pakistan pushing in terrorists to infiltrate into Kashmir.

BSF director-general D.K. Pathak is rushing to areas along the international border in the wake of the heavy shelling from Pakistan. Officials said Mr Pathak briefed Union home minister Rajnath Singh about the heavy mortar shelling across the border.

Read: Stop firing, says India after ‘relentless’ Pakistan continues ceasefire violations

BSF sources said the DG will visit forward areas in the Samba-Kathua sector on Tuesday. Mr Parrikar and Mr Singh are also believed to have briefed the PM on the situation.

J&K authorities have ordered that all government and private schools and colleges in the Hiranagar and Marheen zones will remain closed from January 6.