Pak targets 15 BoPs, villages along IB in Jammu, 3 injured

Pakistani troops heavily shelled 15 Border Out Posts and hamlets along the International Border overnight, leaving three persons injured, one of them seriously in Jammu district.

BSF troops retaliated and intermittent firing and mortar shelling was continuing when last reports came in.

"After heavy firing, Pakistani Rangers resorted to heavy mortar shelling in Arnia and parts of R S Pura sectors of Jammu district overnight", a BSF Spokesman said today.

He said about 15 Border Out Posts (BoPs) were targeted.

Earlier last night, "flat trajectory weaponry fire came at 2010 hours in our area of Operation in three BoPs along International Border (IB) in Arnia sector of Jammu district", he said.

Pakistani troops also shelled several border hamlets in these areas, in which, three persons were injured, one of them critically in Jabowal village along the IB, District Magistrate, Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu told PTI.

The critically injured person has been shifted to Government Medical College Hospital here for specialised treatment, he said, adding "firing and shelling is going on when the reports last came this morning".

The shelling hit Arnia town besides villages of Kuku-Da Kothay, Mahasha kothe, Jabowal, Treva, Chingia, Alla, Sie, Chenaz and Devigarh.

Dozens of shells landed and exploded in deserted Arnia town, the reports said.

However, peace prevailed in forward sectors of Samba, Ramgarh, Hiranagar and Kathua as there were no reports of any firing or shelling in these areas.

Yesterday, Pakistani troops had resorted to firing on forward Indian posts along the LoC in Banwat-Shahpur sector of Poonch district from 1300 hours, a senior Army officer said.

Pakistan heavily shelled civilian areas in Shahpur, Kirni, Banwat, Mandaar, Kalsaam, Doda along LoC in Poonch.

Pakistani troops of 641 Mujahid Regiment also shelled six Posts including Doda, Jangalvon, Jungal two, Kranti, Sher and Shakti in the area.

Five houses suffered minor damages and one house caught fire in the area but there was no casualty.

The IB has witnessed heavy firing this month that has left eight persons dead and 90 people injured, including 13 security men.

Besides over 32,000 people have fled from their border homes leaving 113 hamlets deserted along the IB.