Three injured as firing continues in Jammu and Kashmir

Three people were injured as firing continued between the Indian and Pakistani troopers in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 20,000 villagers have fled their homes in three districts along the international border, police said Tuesday.

"Three civilians have been injured Monday night in Arnia town as the Pakistan Rangers continued the firing and mortar shelling," a senior police officer told IANS in Jammu.

The villagers from Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts have fled their homes following the firing and have been accommodated in makeshift camps.

"The injured have been shifted to a hospital. The BSF (Border Security Force) is retaliating against the Pakistan firing," police said.

The firing which again started between the Pakistan Rangers and the BSF Monday evening, continued Tuesday in Arnia, Pargwal, Kanachak, Ramgarh and other places in Jammu and Samba districts.

Tension prevailed between India and Pakistan following violation of the 2003 ceasefire.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday asked Pakistan to stop violating the ceasefire in the state, warning that "times have changed in India".

The minister's comments followed firing by the Pakistani troopers in Jammu and Kashmir that left at least five civilians dead and 29 injured.