Tense situation prevailed along the International Border (IB) and some sectors of the LoC in Jammu on Saturday after two more civilians and a soldier were killed in Pakistani shelling and firing for the third consecutive day.
All sectors at the IB in Jammu, Samba, and Kathu witnessed intense shelling from Pakistan which was effectively responded by the BSF causing damage to Rangers, their mortar positions and bunkers. The BSF sources said that there was a high possibility of casualties on Pakistan side due to an effective response by the BSF.
The civilians killed in were identified as Ghara Singh and Ashok Kumar of Kapurpur in RS Pura, 34 km from Jammu. One more civilian was injured in Kanachak area taking the total number of injured to 35.
The soldier killed was identified as Mandeep Singh. He was shot by a Pakistani snipper at Krishna Ghati in Poonch. Singh is a resident of Alampur in Punjab’s Sangroor district.
The spokesman for Army's Nothern Command, Colonel N.N. Joshi said Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Saturday at 8.20 am in the Krishna Ghati.
“Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. However, in the exchange of fire, Sepoy Mandeep Singh was grievously injured. He later succumbed to his wounds,” Joshi said.
Singh is the third soldier killed in the last 24 hours on LoC and IB.
A BSF Head Constable and a Lance Naik of the Army were killed on Friday.
Since Wednesday Pakistan has targetted Indian positions and villages on the IB and LoC with heavy caliber mortars, 80 mm and 120 mm mortars with a range of seven and five kilometers to hit deeper into civilians areas and heavy machine guns.
“Most of the people in the villages in firing zones have either been evacuated or shifted to their relatives,'' said Arun Manhas, additional deputy commissioner, Jammu. ''Around 300 are lodged in centers set up in RS Pura while 1,000 nomadic shepherd along with 4,400 cattle were shifted from Jora farms to safer places.”
The authorities also have evacuated most of Arnia town with a population of around 10,000 near the IB as a precautionary measure. Hardly 15 per cent people are staying back due to safeguard their homes and cattle from thieves.
The authorities have also closed schools in border villages in Jammu near the IB and also those close to the LoC, 72, in Rajouri.
Pakistan Ranger attacked scores of the forward post of the BSF at the IB and Army posts at LoC. Rangers also fired at BSF posts from RS Pura to Kanachak and Pargwal sectors spanning the forward areas in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua.
The BSF responded effectively and targetted Rangers' mortar and firing positions. BSF sources said there was a high possibility of casualties to Rangers and destruction to their posts and other infrastructure.
The district administration in border areas has ordered the closure of schools in the five-kilometer area from IB and LoC.
At least 700 border residents from RS Pura, 211 from Ramgarh and 160 from Hiranagar were removed to safer locations by the district administration.
