Five killed, 29 injured in Pakistani firing in Jammu

Small, automatic weapons and mortar bombs were used to target the border hamlets and BoPs along the borderline

Five villagers were killed and 29 injured in heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani troops targeting hamlets and outposts along the International Border in Jammu district today in one of the worst ceasefire violations.

 

"Pakistani Rangers resorted to heavy and unprovoked firing and shelling of mortars on 10 corder outposts (BoPs) and civilian areas along international border (IB) in Arnia belt of Jammu district from 10 p.m last night," a BSF spokesman said today.

 

They used small, automatic weapons and mortar bombs to target the border hamlets and BoPs along the borderline. BSF troops guarding the borderline retaliated effectively and gave a befitting reply, he said, adding that the intermittent firing exchanges are going on in the area.

 

In the shelling, five villagers were killed and 29 injured in several hamlets, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), R S Pura Tehsil, Devender Shingh told PTI.

 

25 of the injured have been shifted to GMC hospital Jammu.

 

"The injured people, most of them civilians, are being evacuated to hospital for treatment. Emergency relief teams have been rushed to the area."

 

Reports from the area said shelling from the Pakistani side has been so heavy that mortar shells have fallen inside the Arnia bus stand which is more than four km away from the international border.

 

Panic gripped the border villages in Arnia and other places close to the international border in the district.

 

According to a source, residents of many villages in Arnia have started migrating to safer places.

 

Officials of civil and police administration have rushed to ensure that damage to the civilian life and property is minimised.