Pak shelling leaves 3 civilians dead, 17 injured in Jammu

Jammu, Aug 28: Three civilians were killed and 17 injured as Pakistani troops today pounded border areas of Jammu with heavy shelling and firing since the wee hours, in yet another ceasefire violation.

BSF retaliated strongly to the Pakistani firing and shelling in R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district.

"Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing. Initially small arms were used but later on mortar bombs were shelled on BSF posts and civilian areas in R S Pura and Arnia sectors," BSF spokesman said.

The firing and mortar shelling started around 0145 hours in Kishanpur, Jora Form, Jugnu Chak, Nawapind, Gharna, Sia, Abdullian and Chandu Chak areas in R S Pura sector and at 0430 hours in Arnia sector, a police officer said.

The shelling was so heavy that the shells landed deep inside villages much away from IB, he said. In the shelling and firing, three civilians were killed, 17 others injured, four of them critically, the officer said adding the injured have been hospitalised.

While two persons died in R S Pura sector, one died in Arnia sector. Scores of animals were also injured and some buildings suffered damages in the firing, Deputy Commissioner (Jammu) Samreendeep Singh said.

"BSF troops deployed in these forward areas gave a befitting reply and fired on the forward areas of Pakistan along the Line of Control, causing damage to them," officials said.

"No damage or casualty to BSF troops has been reported till last reports came in," they added.

There have been 55 violations of the border ceasefire agreement by Pakistan in August and over 245 ceasefire violations during the year so far.

PTI