Jammu: Amid heightening tensions across the India-Pakistan border, Pakistan on Saturday continued to violate ceasefire and resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing on several BSF posts in Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, killing one woman and injuring eight others.

The woman identified as 45-year-old Toshi Devi, wife of Somnath and a resident of Mangu Chak village in Samba district, was injured in the shelling and succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.

Pakistani troops targeted villages and 13 border outposts in heavy shelling.

The latest round of ceasefire violations by Pakistan which started on New Year eve has left a BSF jawan dead and seven others injured while five Pakistani Rangers have been killed in retaliatory firing by India till yesterday.

"Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and heavy firing and mortar shelling on posts and civilian areas along IB in Samba and Kathua districts since 2130 hours last night," Inspector General of BSF Rakesh Sharma told PTI.

"BSF troops gave a befitting reply resulting in exchanges which stopped at 3 am in the morning," the IG said, adding that Pakistan again started mortar shelling and firing targeting civilian areas since 7 am and it is going on intermittently.

Reports from the border villages of Manyari, Paansar, Bobia, Londi, Sadechak, Chailari, Chachwal, Mangu Chak, Regaal, Mawa, Sadho and Chak Fakira in Samba and Kathua districts said dozens of families had started migrating to safer places because of renewed Pakistan shelling on the international border.

Two persons were injured in Baingallar border hamlet in Samba, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Samba, Anil Magotra told PTI, adding that firing exchanges were going on intermittently.

Last night, the force had thwarted a "major infiltration attempt" from across the border.

Under the cover of shelling and firing, the Rangers tried to push a group of seven to eight heavily armed militants from forward area of Chor Gali in Samba sector at 11.30 PM.

The alert BSF jawans spotted the militants intruding towards the Indian territory and opened heavy firing towards them. The militants fled back to Pakistan.

BSF sources said they have got reports that five Pakistani Rangers have been killed in the exchange of fire since Thursday, with two casualties post 9:30 pm.

(With agency inputs)