STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: BSF on Thursday killed one Pak ranger in strong retaliation and also targeted at least six Border Out Posts to avenge martyrdom of Head Constable in RS Pura last evening.
Identified as Jitender Kumar of Motihari district in Bihar, the BSF personnel was hit by a splinter injury in RS Pura Sector on Wednesday night and succumbed to his fatal injuries before reaching the hospital.
Eight other civilians were injured in the fresh exchange of cross border shelling across Jammu Frontier. Six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti area of RS Pura while two others received splinter injures in Pansar village of Hiranagar in the evening.
Meanwhile, Pakistan army has also activated the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts by resorting to heavy shelling in the forward areas.
According to eye witness reports from Balakote Sector of Poonch, Pakistan army was pounding forward villages using 82 mm mortars. In some places, Pak army was also using long range mortars to target the civilian areas.
In Jammu, the district authorities had activated the community shelters to accommodate border residents. According to last reports, a large number of villagers had evacuated their houses anticipating intense firing in the coming days. The senior army authorities rushed to the forward area to closely monitor the situation. In Jammu, the BSF authorities were reacting strongly to the latest provocation.
Pakistani troops also violated ceasefire along LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district.
“At 1230 and 1315 hours today, BSF troops in Arnia and R S Pura sectors killed one Pakistani Ranger and seriously injured another in the retaliatory firing,” a senior BSF officer said here.
Pakistani Rangers somehow managed to evacuate their grievously injured colleague in the vehicle amidst exchange of fire, officer said.
“Pakistan has resorted to very heavy firing which is being responded in the befitting manner,” he said.
“There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning,” a police officer said.
In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in R S Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been taken to hospital for treatment.
Pakistani Rangers started firing heavy mortars and small arm fire towards the Indian side from 2035 hours last night, the BSF officer said.
Pakistan troops also violated ceasefire on the LoC by resorting to firing in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district.
“Pakistan troops have violated ceasefire and resorted to firing along LoC in Sunderbani sector today,” a senior Army officer said. Troops guarding the border retaliated, he added.In the evening Pak army resorted to use of 82 mm mortar in KG sector from 17.10 hours. Heavy firing was going on in the area till the time of filing the report.
Yesterday, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of BSF was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during overnight ceasefire violation in RS Pura sector along the International Border in Jammu.
As many as 16 people mostly women have been injured in the cross border firing in the RS Pura sector in past two days. 8 civilians were injured shelling in R S Pura and Arnia on October 25.
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border.
Border residents are migrating to safer locations in the wake of the heavy firing, Singh said.
A six-year-old boy and a BSF Jawan were killed in the cross border shelling in the RS Pura sector on October 24.
Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since surgical strikes by Indian Army against terror launch pads in PoK on September 29.
Meanwhile, one soldier was killed and another injured today as army foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Tangdhar sector along Line of Control in Kashmir, army said here.
“An infiltration bid was foiled in Tangdhar as troops intercepted a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate,” an army official said.
He said in the ensuing gunfight, one soldier was killed while another was injured.
“The injured soldier has been evacuated,” he said.
The official said the operation was in progress and further details were awaited.
