JAMMU: Three persons, including two women, were injured when Pakistani troops directed heavy mortar fire at 11 border out posts and hamlets today, along the international border (IB) in Jammu district, forcing BSF troops to retaliate.
There was heavy shelling of mortar bombs and firing on 11 BoPs and hamlets along IB in Arnia sector tonight, police officers said.
Such was the intensity of the firing that mortar shells reached Arnia town and over 10 to 12 shells exploded in Arnia bus stand, they said, adding, three persons including two women were injured and were hospitalised.
"From midnight till this morning, there were exchanges of fire and shelling in Arnia sector in area of 6-8 BOPs of BSF," a senior BSF officer said.
"Firing stopped at 0645 hours this morning," he said.
Pakistani troops also resorted to border firing with small and heavy weapons at four border hamlets of Nikowal, Budhwar, Buley-Chak, S H Way and Shahnaz forward posts of Arnia sector.
Three cattle were killed and four injured while a temple, three houses and three cowsheds were damaged.
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and a villager injured yesterday when Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the IB in Arnia sector.
Seven people, including three jawans and four civilians, have been injured in shelling and firing by Pakistan along the IB and LoC in Jammu and Poonch districts during the past three days.
Two Pakistani soldiers were also killed in retaliatory action by the BSF.
Incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have increased sharply this year. Till August 1, there have been 285 such actions by the Pakistan army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures by the Indian Army.