Four injured in Pakistan firing in Jammu

Four people, including two troopers, were injured Monday in Pakistan firing at the international border in Jammu and Kashmir. The firing has now stopped but authorities are keeping a strict vigil along the border areas.

"The firing that started at four places in the R.S. Pura area because of Pakistan ceasefire violation Monday has stopped," a police officer told IANS here.

"Police and civil administration are on alert in the area," the officer added.

Two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers - Head Constable Suneel Kumar and Constable Bishnu Nandan Yadav - were injured when Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing at BSF positions in the area at around 4.15 a.m. Monday.

The BSF retaliated and the intermittent exchange of fire lasted for nearly three hours.

Two women, Rani Devi and Rishu Kumar of Suhag colony in Arnia area, were also injured.

The Pakistan army violated the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar area of Poonch district on Sunday as well.

The army guards the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir while the BSF guards the international border.

Army and intelligence agencies believe the ceasefire violations by Pakistan are a part of its design to facilitate infiltration of armed terrorists into the Indian side of the border in the state.