Pakistan violates ceasefire along International Border in Jammu

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs12-September, 2017 15:05 IST
Union Home Minister concludes his 4-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir
Centre to give 3000 jobs to migrants from Kashmir valley: Shri Rajnath Singh


The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh concluded his four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir today. He was accompanied by the Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba and senior officers of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh joined the Home Minister in Srinagar since yesterday.


Addressing a press conference in Jammu today, Shri Rajnath Singh said that the Centre is trying to give equitable development to all the 3 regions of J&K. Several projects are under implementation under PMDP. The Centre has decided to give 3000 jobs to migrants from Kashmir valley and Rs 1080 crores have been sanctioned to the state under this head, he further said. He also said that the Government has increased the compensation for those who get killed in ceasefire violations from Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakh. He said that Pakistan has violated ceasefire on more than 400 times in recent years. Pakistan will have to stop these violations sooner or later, he asserted.


Highlighting other initiatives, he said that the Government has also decided to construct 6000 Transit Accommodation in the Kashmir valley. He said that the Government has also allocated a package of Rs 2000 crores for the rehabilitation of POJK migrants. The disbursal has been linked to AADHAAR, he added.


Shri Rajnath Singh said that he has been on J&K visit for the past four days. He visited Nowshera yesterday and met the people living in border areas and jawans of BSF. He said that we cannot forget the contribution made by people living in border areas. The Home Minister said that the Government has decided to constitute an expert/study group to study the problems facing the people living in border areas.


The Home Minister met various delegations in Jammu including political parties, 'Panun Kashmir', Gujjar Bakarwal community and delegations from different sections of the J&K society.


The Union Home Minister had arrived in Srinagar on September 09, 2017 on a 4-day visit to the state. During his visit, he met the Governor Shri N. N. Vohra and Chief Minister Ms. Mehbooba Mufti. He also reviewed the status of implementation of the Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP) for Jammu and Kashmir with the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh, Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba, Chief Secretary of J&K, Shri BB Vyas and Senior Officers of the MHA and State Government. He also chaired a high-level Security Review Meeting in Srinagar on the law and order and security situation in the State.

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[Hindustani78]

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has announced an increase in compensation to victims of ceasefire violations in J&K from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh, while considering proposal to procure land for permanent shelters.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-hikes-relief-for-victims/article19671954.ece

During his tour to border district of Rajouri in the Pir Panchal valley, Mr. Singh said, “Pakistan will have to stop these (ceasefire) violations sooner or later.”

The Minister said an expert group will study problems faced by the people living in border areas, which have witnessed over 400 violations in recent years.

Mr. Singh reviewed the status of migrants displaced by ceasefire violations in Rajouri’s Nowshera this year.

“The local administration proposed 1030 kanal State land for alternative shelters,” District Collector, Rajouri, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

The demand to include crop losses under the Prime Minister Fasal Bhima Yojana was also put forth before the Union minister.

‘For equitable development of regions’

Meanwhile, Mr. Singh, who concluded his four-day J&K tour on Tuesday, said the Centre was for equitable development of all three regions of J&K.

“Around 6000 transit accommodations will be constructed in Kashmir valley for (Pandit) migrants. Around 3,000 jobs will be provided to them as ₹1080 crore has already been sanctioned,” he said.

Centre adopting reconciliatory approach: PDP

A day after Union Home minister ‘defended’ special status of J&K, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the BJP at the Centre and national opposition parties have “acknowledged the importance of the reconciliatory approach and inclusiveness to get J&K out of turbulence and mistrust”.

PDP senior vice-president Mohammad Sartaj Madni said all parties have realised how important it is to review cooperative diplomacy for regional peace and mutual understanding.

He said the latest assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister in this regard were “very much encouraging”.

Meeting with NC team

A 25-member NC delegation met Mr. Singh in Jammu on Tuesday and suggested that “regional autonomy to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is a way forward to satiate aspirations of the people in three distinct regions of the State.”

“Autonomous administrative structures for sub-regions on the pattern of Ladakh Hill Development Councils can defeat nefarious designs of the forces who want trifurcation of J&K,” NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana said.

He expressed satisfaction over assurance of the Union Home Minister on Article 35A. “The Attorney General of India must be asked to submit a forceful counter in the apex court to safeguard Article 35A, which is endorsement of the law enacted by Maharja Hari Singh Ji 90 years ago,” he said.

Srinagar, September 11, 2017 23:28 IST
Updated: September 12, 2017 12:51 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ecial-status-says-rajnath/article19665271.ece

Pitching for peace: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with a child in a border migrants camp in the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Trees of peace have not dried up, says Home Minister on a visit to the State
As both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in meetings with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, he said on Monday that the Centre wouldl not go against people's sentiments on Article 35A, which grants special rights to locals on property and jobs.

“There are no issues left, which is why such issues are being raised,” he told a conference here.

Article 35A has been challenged through three petitions in the Supreme Court, which will again hear them in November.

‘Ready for talks with all’
“The Centre is ready to hold talks with anyone. I am inviting everyone willing to help us in resolving the problems of Kashmir. We have never opposed talks. All stakeholders are welcome,” he said.

The National Investigation Agency, which has detained a number of separatist leaders since June, “was acting according to the law of the land.” “This should not deter those who want to talk to the government.”

Referring to a “permanent solution of Kashmir,” he said five Cs — compassion, communication, coexistence, confidence-building, and consistency — would be its basis.

The situation in Kashmir was “improving but not completely normal. What I have seen during the last two, three days has convinced me that the trees of peace have not dried up. I can see green buds of peace on these trees…If I have to come 50 times to bring peace to J&K, I will do that.”

Mr. Singh, who met around 55 delegations, asked the security agencies to ensure “no excesses are committed during operations” and “not to treat minors as criminals.”

“Minors must be dealt with under the juvenile justice system and not be put in jails. They must be properly counselled,” he said.

In Jammu, the Union Minister visited the BSF campus at Naushera and took stock of operational preparedness on the Line of Control and International Boundary.

Mr. Singh said fewer people were injured in crowd control this year.

“We introduced the PAVA gun to replace the pellet gun, but I was told it is not very effective,” he said. The Minister asked Pakistan “to stop infiltrating terrorists into J&K”.

He appealed to tourists and tourist organisations to visit Kashmir. “The people of Kashmir are ready to welcome you. They want to turn it into heaven again,” he said.

Former Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah welcomed Mr. Singh’s stand on Article 35A, while Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for a “final settlement.”

“This is a very important statement from the Union Home Minister. His assurance will go a long way towards silencing the noises against 35A. The Union government must now file a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court to defend 35A. That is the way to carry this assurance forward,” Mr. Abdullah said.

Mr. Geelani called for “a peaceful resolution to Kashmir through the Indian Independence Act of 1947.”

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...noor-poonch/story-bKbkSrBJd6CrhMJCYvyskL.html

Pakistani forces have violated the ceasefire several times in recent days
india Updated: Sep 13, 2017 21:30 IST

Pakistan opened heavy fire at Indian posts in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Jammu districts twice on Wednesday.

In the morning, the Pakistan army opened fire at Indian troops in Degwar area of Poonch district along the Line of Control (LoC), prompting India to retaliate.

In the second ceasefire violation of the day, Pakistan Rangers opened heavy fire and shot few mortars in Pargwal sector along the International Border in Akhnoor area of Jammu district around 3.45 pm.

BSF retaliated in equal measure. There were no reports of casualty.

On Monday afternoon, the Pakistan army had initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Poonch sector along the LoC.

Pakistani forces have violated the ceasefire several times in recent days, officials said. Incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan have increased sharply this year.

Till August 1, there were 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to army figures.

(With agency inputs)

 

[Hindustani78]

Srinagar, September 14, 2017 18:43 IST
Updated: September 14, 2017 19:03 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...illed-in-jk/article19684575.ece?homepage=true

Security personnel stand guard near the encounter site in Nowgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

The identity of the second terrorist killed in the encounter is being ascertained, a police official said.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Ismail, the mastermind behind the July 10 attack on Amarnath yatra pilgrims, was among two terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar on Thursday, police said.

The identity of the second terrorist is being ascertained, a police official said.

The encounter took place at Aribagh in Nowgam area on the outskirts of Srinagar, the official said.

Director General of Police (DGP) S.P. Vaid said police had specific intelligence input about the presence of foreign terrorists in the area and an operation was launched to neutralise them.

“We had information about the presence of two foreign terrorists, including Abu Ismail. Both have been neutralised and the bodies have been taken for identification,” he said.

Ismail was the mastermind of the July 10 attack on a bus carrying Amarnath yatra pilgrims in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The attack left eight pilgrims dead.

 

[Hindustani78]

An Army soldier patrols near the LoC in Poonch district. File | Photo Credit: AP

Jammu, September 15, 2017 09:31 IST
Updated: September 15, 2017 09:31 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-pak-troops/article19689406.ece?homepage=true

There have been continuous ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops for the past three days.
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire for the third consecutive day on Friday along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district.

Constable Bijender Bahadur was on duty at forward point along the fence in Arnia sector along the IB when Pakistani Rangers resorted to mortar shelling and small arms fire at about 0020 hours today.

A bullet hit the jawan on the left side of his abdomen and he succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital, a BSF officer said.

“BSF troops retaliated strongly and gave befitting reply,” he said.

“Intermittent fire continued from both side from mid night till morning,” the officer said.

Bahadur, 32, hailed from Vidya Bhawan Naraypur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Balia district. He is survived by his wife Sushmita Singh.

There have been continuous ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops for the past three days.

Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action by the BSF yesterday while three Indian jawans were injured in unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the IB and the LoC in Jammu and Poonch districts on Wednesday.

Incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have increased sharply this year. Till August 1, there have been 285 such actions by the Pakistan army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures by the Indian Army.

 

[Hindustani78]

Security personnel stand guard after a brief encounter with militants at Aribagh Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar on Thursday. Two top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants Abu Ismail and Abu Qasim were killed in the gun battle. PTI Photo

A villager injured in cross border firing with Pakistan in Poonch, being rushed to a hospital in Jammu, on Thursday. PTI Photo

Security personnel guard after a brief encounter with militants at Aribagh Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar.(PTI Photo)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-abu-ismail/story-QIaKYP0fdw6AwfuHA43owL.html
Abu Ismail, the Lashkar-e-Toiba leader killed by security forces in Kashmir’s Nowgam on Thursday, was on the security forces’ radar after the July attack on Amarnath pilgrims in the state.

Ismail, 24, was also blamed for the attack on CRPF personnel near DPS-Srinagar in June. He was a Pakistani and is the fourth top militant leader to be killed in the Valley since 2016.

There were 15 criminal cases, including murder, against Ismail who had taken over the reins of the LeT’s south Kashmir operations after his predecessor Abu Dujana was killed in an encounter last month.

 

[Hindustani78]

Srinagar: , September 16, 2017 09:52 IST
Updated: September 16, 2017 09:52 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-in-kupwara/article19696827.ece?homepage=true

The Army on Saturday morning said it killed two unidentified infiltrators along the Line of control (LoC) in Machil sector of Kupwara.

The soldiers manning the fence at Goutum Post near LoC intercepted a group of militants.

"After being challenged, the militants opened fire triggering off an encounter," the army said.

Two infiltrators were killed, said the army spokesman. The operation is on, he added.

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Jammu , September 16, 2017 10:42 IST
Updated: September 16, 2017 10:42 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ive-days-shells-bsf-posts/article19697082.ece

Pakistani troops targeted Indian border outposts and hamlets along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district in overnight firing and shelling, a senior BSF officer said today.

There have been continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the IB for the past four days, in which one BSF jawan was killed and a few others were injured.

Pakistani troops started firing at Indian posts in Arnia sector around midnight, prompting Border Security Force (BSF) personnel to retaliate, the officer said.

“Firing stopped at 0645 hours,” the officer said.

One temple, two houses and three cowsheds were damaged in the Pakistani firing in Sai, Treva and Jabowl villages. Three livestock were killed in the overnight shelling, the officer added.

BSF jawan Bijender Bahadur was killed and a villager injured yesterday when Pakistan troops resorted to firing and shelling along the IB in Arnia sector.

Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action by the BSF on Thursday, while three Indian jawans were injured in unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Poonch districts on Wednesday.

Incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have increased sharply this year. Till August 1, there have been 285 such actions by the Pakistan army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures by the Indian Army.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-sub-sector/story-q17JiO2gdBktzhze7P5y8M.html

A day after killing a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan and injuring a civilian, Pakistani Rangers opened heavy fire on six to eight Indian posts along the international border in Arnia sub-sector of RS Pura in Jammu district on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) responded in equal measure, its Jammu frontier DIG Dharmender Pareekh said. “From mid night till Saturday morning there were exchanges of fire and shelling in Arnia sector in area of 6 to 8 border outposts of BSF,” DIG Pareekh said.

The firing stopped at 6.45am and no loss of human life or injuries to anyone was reported, he added.

But, an Arnia police station officer said Pakistan resorted to indiscriminate firing with small and heavy weapons at Sai, Treva and Jabowal forward posts.

He said three cattle died, three others were injured and three houses and a temple were damaged in the firing.

Arnia tehsildar has ordered closure of schools coming within 5km range of border.

On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, Pakistani Rangers had shot dead BSF constable Brijendra Bahadur Singh in a sniper fire in Arnia sector, prompting BSF to retaliate stingingly.

On Friday morning, a civilian Ajay Kumar of Suhagpur Powal was injured when a shell exploded on a road while he was coming out of a rice mill. Two Pakistani soldiers were also killed in retaliatory action by the BSF on Thursday.

Home minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to Jammu on September 12 had reiterated his word of advice to the BSF and Army to not to open first fire but stop counting their bullets if Pakistan fired even a one at India.

 

[Hindustani78]

A villager shows the tail of a mortar shell allegedly fired from the Pakistan side of the border at Jora Farm village, in Ranbir Singh Pura, in Jammu on Monday.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pak-firing-shuts-schools-in-arnia/article19710717.ece

A le photo of a woman displaying mortar shells, allegedly red from the Pakistani side of the International Border in Arnia. | Photo Credit: PTI

Srinagar , September 18, 2017 22:25 IST
Updated: September 18, 2017 22:25 IST

Army says it has ‘strongly retaliated’ to the unprovoked ceasefire violation

All schools were closed near the International Border (IB) in the Arnia Sector of Jammu on Monday in the wake of ceasefire violations by Pakistan for the fifth time since Thursday night.

A Border Security Force (BSF) spokesman said Pakistani Rangers again started unprovoked firing in the sector at 11 p.m. on Sunday.

“Later, they resorted to 81 mm mortar shelling, which was effectively and strongly retaliated and the enemy fire was suppressed in a few minutes,” said the spokesman.

He said intermittent firing continued till 5.30 a.m. on Monday.

“There was no loss or injury on this side,” said the spokesman.

The authorities closed all schools located within five-kilometres from the border in Arnia on Monday.

The spokesman said around 10 BSF border outposts and 10 villages were targeted in the past four days in Arnia.

One BSF trooper and a civilian were killed in the ceasefire violations in the Jammu region in the past five days. The ceasefire agreement is mainly violated in the night.

Official data puts the number of ceasefire violations at 400 times since 2014.

 

[Hindustani78]

The completely damaged house where two militants including a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Sabzar Ahmad Bhat were killed in an encounter with security forces at Soimoh village of Tral in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Saturday. PTI Photo

A security personnel looking for clues at the scene of a grenade blast by militants at Jehangir Chowk in Srinagar on Thursday. One civilian was killed and 15 other were injured in the blast.

 

[Hindustani78]

President's Secretariat
20-September, 2017 20:00 IST
Youth from Jammu & Kashmir Participating in Operation Sadbhavana call on the President

A group of youth from the Gurez Valley of Jammu & Kashmir, participating in Operation Sadbhavana, called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (September 20, 2017).

Welcoming the youth, the President said that young people are the future of Jammu & Kashmir and it's their responsibility to play a role in the development of the state. He stated that successive Indian governments had worked for the welfare of the people of the State. He asked the youth to learn from the discipline of the Indian Army. He also congratulated the Army on the Sadbhavana initiative and wished the programme all success.

The Sadbhavana tour was organised by the 109 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army with an aim to develop trust among and reignite the minds of youth towards national integration. As part of this tour, these youth are visiting Srinagar, Delhi, Lansdowne, Rishikesh and Dehradun.

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[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ceasefire-in-keran-sector/article19720430.ece
Srinagar, September 20, 2017 14:51 IST
Updated: September 20, 2017 14:52 IST

A soldier was killed as Pakistani troops opened fire at an Army patrol along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

An Army official said that “necessary and adequate” response has been given to the Pakistani firing.

“Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in the early hours today. One soldier was injured in the incident,” the Army official said.

The injured jawan was airlifted to a hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries.

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[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...cape-unhurt/article19726560.ece?homepage=true

“I am unhurt myself but I am very sad because this claimed two lives...I feel very sad for them,” says Minister for Public Works Naeem Akhtar.
Two civilians were killed and six persons, including two policemen, injured in a grenade attack on a cavalcade of senior Jammu and Kashmir Minister at Tral in Pulwama district on Thursday, police said.

The Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar, however, escaped unhurt in the attack. “The grenade was reportedly hurled at 11.45 a.m.,” a police official said.

The killed persons were identified as Ghulam Nabi Trag (56) and Pinky Kour (17).

After the attack, the Minister said, “I am unhurt myself but I am very sad because this claimed two lives...I feel very sad for them.”

A driver was “very critically injured”, he said, adding that he was being airlifted to Srinagar.

“I am profoundly shocked that they chose to target us when we were trying to speed up development of the Tral constituency,” he said. The attack was an attempt to “subvert our outreach programme and our programme to take governance to the people," he added.

SITTWE (MYANMAR):, September 21, 2017 17:52 IST
Updated: September 21, 2017 17:55 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-to-rakhine/article19728776.ece?homepage=true

In this December 2, 2015 file photo taken in Naypyitaw, then Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (right) and Myanmar’s Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the military commander-in-chief, shake hands during their meeting. | Photo Credit: AP

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing makes no mention of the 4,22,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.
Myanmar’s army chief called on Thursday for people internally displaced by violence in Rakhine State to go home and rebuild communities, but he made no mention of 4,22,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh to escape his force's operations.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in a major speech on his plans for Rakhine state on his first visit there since the latest strife erupted, said the military had handled the situation as best as it could after a wave of coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents on August 25.

Is this ethnic cleansing?
The United Nations has said the military response to the insurgent attacks is ethnic cleansing aimed at pushing the Rohingya Muslim community out of Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

Myanmar denies that, saying its forces are waging a legitimate campaign against Muslim terrorists who have been attacking and torching villages of Buddhists and other non-Muslims, some 30,000 of whom were internally displaced.

The Army Chief did not mention the accusation of ethnic cleansing in his speech to business people, officials and some of the displaced, in Sittwe, the state capital.

“Regarding the rehabilitation of villages of our national races, for the national races who fled their homes, first of all they must go back to their places,” he said.

“National races” is a Myanmar term referring to members of officially recognised indigenous ethnic groups who make up the diverse nation.

Rohingya outside the purview
The Rohingya are not recognised as a “national race,” and are instead seen as illegal immigrants and denied citizenship.

Animosity between Buddhists in Rakhine state and the Rohingya goes back generations, but has seethed in recent years, fuelled in part by a surge of Buddhist nationalism since nearly five decades of strict military rule came to an end.

“The important thing is to have our people in the region. It’s necessary to have control of our region with our national races,” General Min Aung Hlaing said. “We can’t do anything if there are no people from our national races ... that is their rightful place.”

The Army Chief did not refer to the return of Muslims to their villages in the north of the state, almost half of which have been abandoned and torched.

The crisis has drawn international condemnation and calls from the United Nations and U.S. President Donald Trump for the military to stop the violence and support diplomatic efforts for a long-term solution for the Rohingya.

Suu Kyi for verification
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in her first address to the nation on the crisis on Tuesday, said her country was ready to start a verification process to take back refugees, under a 1993 arrangement with Bangladesh.

“Refugees from this country will be accepted without any problem,” she said.

 

[Hindustani78]

In this file photo, jawans patrol the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. | Photo Credit: PT

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...g-7-injured/article19740877.ece?homepage=true

Pakistan troops engaged in heavy firing and mortar shelling on villages and border outposts in Arnia, RS Pura and Ramgarh sectors along the International Border
Pakistan troops targeted Indian border outposts and hamlets in Jammu, Samba and Poonch districts in overnight firing and shelling, injuring two BSF jawans and five civilians, officials said on Saturday.

Continuous violations of ceasefire by Pakistan along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) have forced hundreds of border residents to flee their homes.

Pakistan troops engaged in heavy firing and mortar shelling on villages and border outposts in Arnia, RS Pura and Ramgarh sectors along the IB in Jammu and Samba districts since Friday evening, the officials said.

They targeted over 20 villages.

Three civilians in Satowali village of RS Pura sector were injured in Pakistani shelling and had to be hospitalised, they said, adding that another villager was injured in Treva in Arnia sector.

In Ramgarh sector in Samba, two BSF jawans suffered minor injuries in Pakistani firing, the officials said.

Pakistan also engaged in heavy firing and shelling in Poonch sector along the LoC on September 22 evening. An eight-year-old boy was injured in the firing, they said.

Over 500 people were evacuated by the police from a few border hamlets targeted by Pakistan troops on Friday night, they said.

The villagers have been housed in a camp.

Over 20,000 people have also fled their homes and hearths in Arnia and RS Pura sectors in the past few days, the officials said.

There have been continuous firing and shelling by Pakistan troops along the IB and the LoC between September 13 and September 18.

Firing and shelling resumed on September 21 after a two-day lull.

A BSF jawan and a civilian were killed and 25 others including five BSF personnel were injured in the shelling and firing by Pakistan troops during the period.

Incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops have increased sharply this year. Till August 1, there have been 285 such actions by the Pakistan Army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures by the Indian Army.