STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The residents of Ramgarh in Samba Sector on Tuesday witnessed a blood bath in front of their own eyes as Pakistan Rangers set the International Border on fire by constantly pounding several forward villages with 120 mm and 82 mm mortars which resulted in the killing of 6 civilians including two minors and two women.
Two women were also killed in Balakote area of Rajouri when they were working in their fields.
Meanwhile, the unprovoked shelling from across the Line of Control led to panic in Mendhar town and its bustling bazaar shut down almost immediately as people fled to safety. This is for the first time in several decades that the busy town came under direct attack from Pakistan Rangers.
A total number of 22 civilians were also injured in the intense shelling, one of the biggest ever provocations so far after the tensions escalated in the aftermath of surgical strikes inside PoK.
Hitting back strongly, BSF claimed to have decimated at least 14 border outposts of Pakistan Rangers in the area falling opposite Ramgarh and Arnia sub-sectors.
To prevent further loss of human lives, the district authorities in all these bordering districts have decided to shut down the educational institutions in the border areas. “174 schools were shut down in Jammu, 85 in Poonch, 45 each in Samba and Kathua by the local district authorities”.
Meanwhile, a large number of border residents were safely evacuated from forward areas prone to Pak shelling along the International Border in Samba, Arnia and RS Pura sectors.
DIG BSF Dharmendra Pareekh said,” Pakistan Rangers used 120 mm and 82 mm mortars to target the civilian areas”. He said Pak Rangers were frustrated as they have started targeting civilian areas instead of fighting with them.
Public Relations Officer of Ministry of Defence Lt-Col Munish Mehta said, “Indian troops were giving befitting reply to Pak army along the Line of Control. We are hitting them hard where it hurts the most”.
Earlier he claimed Pak army violated ceasefire agreement in Nowshera Sector around 5.30 A.M by resorting to heavy shelling, using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars, automatics and small arms firing. He said Pak army later spread the area of operation and also targeted forward Indian posts in Balakote Sector of Poonch.
The dead civilians have been identified as Ravinder Kour (22), daughter of Zorawer Singh, resident of Jarda; Rishav (7), son of Romesh Lal, resident of Rangoor Camp at present staying at Slaam-e-Chak R S Pura; Abhi (5), son of Joginder Lal, resident of Rangoor Camp, at present staying at Kairanwali (Ramgarh); Anju Devi (28), wife of Balkar Singh, resident of Rangoor Camp at present staying at Chowani (Ramgarh); Swaran Singh (32), son of Mangal Singh, resident of Govindgarh, Maru Ram (65), son of Nand Ram resident of Rangoor Camp, Sultan Begum wife of Sarfraz and Maqboola Begum wife of Ajmal Khan, resident, of Panjgrain, Balakote.
The injured were identified as Kamali Devi (50), wife of Mada Ram, resident of Rangoor Camp; Bhajan Lal (40), son of Kathu Ram, resident of Chak Babral; Anjana Verma (15), daughter of Kewal Krishan, resident of Nanga; Kapil Verma (25), son of Girdhari Lal, resident of Nanga, Muskan (13), daughter of Balkar Chand, resident of Rangoor Camp; Rakesh Kumar (25) son of Mada Ram, resident of Rangoor Camp; Sushma Devi (24), wife of Rakesh Kumar, resident of Rangoor Camp, Ashok Kumar (45), son of Sain Dass, resident of Rangoor Camp; Pari (2), daughter of Rakesh Kumar and Rani Devi (45), wife of Madan Lal resident of Nanga. In Rajouri district six injured were identified as Salma Kouser daughter of Shabir Ahmad resident of Balakote, shifted to DH Rajouri and then to GMC, Jammu.
Shazia Kouser daughter of Azhar Memood, Mohd Sadiq son of Dil Mohd, Mohd Tahir son of Manir Hussin, Rukhsar Bi daughter of Mohd Maroof, all referred to SDH Mendhar and Zubeda Bi wife of Mohd Maroof, referred to DH Rajouri.
YOUNGEST VICTIM DEFEATS DEATH
The youngest victim of Pakistan shelling in the Ramgarh area of Samba Sector is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu.
Identified as 14 months old Pari, she defeated death while her cousin brothers succumbed to their fatal injuries. Her aunt, Anju Devi of Rangoor camp was also among the victims who could not reach the nearest hospital and breathed her last before receiving the treatment.
Anju Devi was accompanying these children to her brothers place in the area when they were hit by splinter injuries and four members of the same family were killed. 65 years old Maru Ram lost his grand children and daughter before he too succumbed to his injuries.
Twenty two year old Ravinder Kour also lost her life in the Pak shelling while she was working in her kitchen. She was badly injured and killed on the spot. Her upper torso suffered the brunt of the attack.
The two other women killed in Rajouri were also working in their fields when they were hit by the splinter injuries. Meanwhile Swarn Singh of Govindgarh died due to shock after hearing loud bursts of mortar shells in his vicinity.
