Pak troops targeted 16 posts in Jammu; civilian killed, two injured: BSF
The border tension between India and Pakistan has escalated with troops of the two countries exchanging heavy firing and mortar shelling along International Border (IB) in Jammu on Tuesday.
BSF accused Pakistani troops of firing on 16 Border Out Posts (BOPs) and civilian areas in Jammu, causing death of a civilian and injuries to two others including a border guard.
BSF sources said the border guards noticed suspected movement along the International Border (IB) in Kana Chak area during wee hours prompting the security men to open fire.“As soon as fire was opened, Pakistani Rangers also opened fire on our posts. The firing soon spread to Pragwal, Gadkhal (Akhnoor) and RS Pura sector across the International Border. The Pakistani Rangers also pounded civilian areas with mortar shells,” they said.
Sources said a civilian identified as Sanjay Sharma son of Bachan Sharma, 20, of Hamipur Kona, a village on extreme border, was killed in mortar shelling of Pakistani troops.
“The man was standing outside his house when a mortar shell exploded in the compound. He sustained critical injuries and was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead,” they said.
Sources said a BSF man identified as Arjun Singh (Belt No 12331124) was also injured in Pak firing at Rajpura on IB.
He was rushed to GMC hospital Jammu, where doctors have termed his condition as stable.
Sources said several houses suffered partial damage in Pak shelling, which continued from 5.30 am and continued till 3.30 pm.
“Pakistan Rangers also fired on civilian areas and targeted 6 Border out Posts (BoPs) in RS Pura’s forward areas,” BSF sources said adding a youth Sanjeev Choudhary son of Bhagwan Dass of Shamka village sustained injuries in Pakistan shelling.
They said some houses were damaged partially and cattles wounded in the Pak shelling.
Sources said after firing and shelling from Pakistan troops, the residents of border areas took shelters in the underground bunkers.
In Gadhkal, they said, firing also started in morning and stopped at around 4 pm.
“The Pakistani Rangers fired mortar shells on BoPs and civilian areas,” sources added.
With today’s ceasefire violations, there have been 8 ceasefire violations in August.
On August 2 and 3, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire four times by resorting to small arms firing in forward posts along LoC in Krishnagati, Mandi, Balakote and Pallanwala sectors of Poonch and Jammu districts.
There were two ceasefire violations on August one.
There have been 18 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in July in which four persons, including three troopers, were killed and 14 others injured.
