India will give befitting reply to Pak: BJP

Former home secretary and BJP MP from Arrah, RK Singh, on Monday said that India will give a befitting reply to Pakistan for the escalating ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC ) in which several innocent civilians and jawans have lost their lives.

"Pakistan Rangers have decided to send a message to the BSF. The commanders of the Pakistan Rangers should understand that India will give a befitting reply to escalating ceasefire violations across the LoC. The Pakistan Rangers should understand that only the life of innocent civilians are lost in these firings," Singh told ANI here.

The unprovoked firing by Pakistan entered its fourth day on Monday and the civilians have been the most affected as they are facing major loss of property.

At least five civilians were injured in overnight ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba and Kathua Districts.

Pakistani troops targeted 30 border posts during the heavy shelling that still continues at some places.

The Border Security Force (BSF) strongly retaliated, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire. Several houses and shops have been damaged in the shelling.

Five civilians, including children were injured when a mortar landed in a villager's house. The residents told ANI that 50 mortar shells landed in and near the village.

The civilians have been evacuated to safer shelters for now.

"It's been four days since we have slept. The firing and the shelling starts and stops on its own accord and we don't know what to do. Are we supposed to leave? Where do we go? The government needs to find a way to end this. We can't keep taking the loss that we face every day," a local of the Bobiya village in Kathua District told ANI.

Pakistan troops began firing on Friday evening and so far a civilian has been killed and 13 have been injured.