BSF trooper, boy killed in Pakistan shelling in Jammu

Two persons were killed and seven others, including a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper and six civilians, were injured in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday in Pakistan shelling along the Line of Control in Jammu district.

"A BSF trooper identified as Sushil Kumar, and an eight-year-old boy were killed, while seven others, including a BSF trooper and six civilians were injured in heavy shelling and automatic gunfire by Pakistan Rangers on the LoC," police said.

"The BSF trooper from Haryana's Kurukshetra was killed in R.S.Pura sector while the boy was killed in Kanachak area," the police said.

"All those injured, including one BSF trooper and six civilians were shifted to hospital for treatment," said the police.

Reports said Pakistan Rangers have targeted around a dozen BSF outposts on the LoC during the night.

"BSF has been effectively retaliating Pakistan shelling and automatic gunfire," police said.

Some cattle have also been killed because of mortar shells fired by Pakistan in Akhnoor sector.

The Indian and Pakistani armed forces had exchanged heavy shelling and firing all night through along the international border of Jammu district on Monday.

"Heavy shelling and firing exchanges continued throughout the night between Indian and Pakistani troops in Kanachak, Akhnoor, Arnia and some other places on the international border in Jammu district," the police said.

"The exchanges were triggered by the Pakistani Rangers who resorted to unprovoked shelling and firing at Indian positions around 7 p.m. yesterday (Sunday)," the police said.

Residents in the border villages of Jammu and Kashmir in Khour tehsil and other places in Jammu district spent another sleepless night as shells from across the border landed in the agricultural fields close to their homes.

--IANS

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