Cross-border firing intensifies, 24 BSF posts targeted

[Zibago]

Cross-border firing intensifies, 24 BSF posts targeted
13 civilians, BSF trooper injured; thousands move to safer areas


0 0 0 0Print
Yogesh Sagotra
Jammu, Publish Date: May 23 2018 12:07AM | Updated Date: May 23 2018 1:16AM

File Photo
A BSF soldier and thirteen civilians were injured, three of them serious, and livestock worth lakhs of rupees perished in the intensified cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistan forces along the International Border.

The firing between the two sides has been largely localised so far. However, on Tuesday morning, Pakistani forces targeted more than two dozen border outposts in a bigger arc comprising areas in Kathua and Samba districts.

“Pakistani side fired 80mm and 120mm mortars, along with heavy machine guns and targeted 24 BOPs and civilians areas. Our forces retaliated with equal measure,” said Jammu based BSF spokesperson Manoj Yadav.

He said the villagers living within the 3-km radius of border have been appealed to vacate their homes for safety.

The J&K DGP SP Vaid tweeted: “Thirteen civilians injured including three serious in Ramgarh sector of Jammu

International Border due to Pakistan firing in Araspura, Arnia, Ramgarh, Samba, Hiranagar sectors. Sad incident, feel bad for the injured. Police assisting in shifting of the injured to the hospital.”

Thousands of people, especially those from Arnia sector, have migrated to safer places where local residents have provided them food.

“People have already shifted to shelter homes and relief camps,” said additional deputy commissioners Jammu Arun Manhas.

“20 kullas (huts) were burnt in the shelling but families living there had already shifted to Chakori Agriculture Farms,” the ADC said.

He added that a few people injured in today’s shelling were shifted hospitals for treatment, while schools within 5-km radius from the border remained closed.

On May 20, an 8-month old infant was killed and seven others had been injured, while on May 18 five people including one Border Security Force (BSF) soldier and four civilians were killed in Arnia sector.

 

[BHarwana]

This new phase of blood shed was started by India by targeting Pakistani civilians and what Pakistan is doing is defending it's self from this blunt Indian aggression.

 

[Solomon2]

5 civilians killed as Pakistani troops shell border villages, posts

Representative image. Photograph: (Zee News Network)

PTI Jammu May 23, 2018, 03.39 PM (IST)

Five civilians were killed and nine others injured as Pakistani troops rained mortars and opened heavy fire on Indian villages and BoPs along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts today.

Today is the 9th day of continuous firing and shelling by Pakistani Rangers along the IB and LoC in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts.

A senior police officer said two civilians were killed and six injured in the shelling and firing in Samba that started at 9 am.

Pakistani Rangers also targeted civilian areas and posts in Kathua district.

"There was heavy firing and shelling on civilian areas and posts along the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district before dawn", a senior police officer told PTI.

In the firing and shelling, three persons were injured and one of them succumbed to injuries on way to hospital, he said adding the injured have been admitted to hospitals.

He said over 100 border dwellers have been evacuated and put in safe shelters and an operation to evacuate others is going on with use of bullet proof vehicles. The shelling is going on, he said.

In R S Pura, Arnia, Bishnah of Jammu district and Ramgarh and Samba sectors firing and shelling is going on since last night.

"In heavy shelling by Pakistan this morning, a civilian was killed in R S Pura sector and another injured in Arnia sector", a police officer said. The injured person later succumbed to injuries.

A large number of people have been evacuated from various villages in these sectors since last night, he said.

Yesterday, 20 civilians were injured when Pakistani troops shelled Indian villages with mortar bombs.

Arnia town, which has been badly hit in Pakistani shelling, is deserted as most of the people have left their houses and taken shelter either in government camps or at the homes of their relatives.

Educational institutions in the affected areas remained closed.

A senior BSF official said firing and shelling continued unabated overnight and has spread to all sectors along the border.He said Pakistani Rangers suffered several casualties with a number of their bunkers getting hit in the exchanges.
Over 500 people have reported at these camps set up in educational institutions and other government buildings.Adequate facilities are available at these camps.

The latest round of shelling started on May 15 when the BSF foiled two infiltration attempts by Pakistan-backed infiltrators in Samba sector and intensified a day after Pakistan?"pleading" with the BSF to stop firing after being pounded with heavy artillery that left a trooper dead across the border on May 20.

The state has witnessed a spurt in Pakistani shelling and firing along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) this year. Over 700 such incidents have been reported this year, which have left over 40 people, including 18 security personnel, dead and scores injured.