SRINAGAR: After a lull of two days, Pakistani troops again breached border ceasefire by firing on Indian posts and civilian areas along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
“Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing from heavy weapons towards Indian posts and civilian areas along IB in Arnia sector at around 7.30 am. The unprovoked firing continued for nearly an hour,” BSF sources said.
They said Pakistani troops also targeted civilian areas and BSF posts with mortar shells.
“Mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops landed near two residential houses in Arnia sector, causing injuries to three persons, including two brothers,” sources said.
They identified the injured as Surjeet Kumar, 38, his elder brother Som Nath, 50, and Vishal. “The trio was shifted to local hospital, but doctors referred critically injured Surjeet to Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu for specialized treatment”.
Sources said dozens of mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops landed in deserted Arnia town, without causing any loss of life or damage to property.
They said Pakistani troops also fired indiscriminately overnight on many Indian posts and civilian areas in R S Pura.
Photos: Ceasefire Violations in Kashmir
“BSF men deployed along IB in Arnia and R S Pura sectors retaliated by firing effectively from small caliber weapons at enemy positions,” BSF sources said.
The fresh skirmishes along IB have caused fear psychosis among the border residents, who had returned to their homes.
Authorities had evacuated 30,000 people from areas close to IB and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts in view of continuous firing and shelling by Pakistani troops since October 1.
“Over 9,400 border migrants comprising 2,100 families continue to stay in relief camps set at 34 locations in Hiranagar,” official said.
They said district administration had decided to shift the migrants belonging to villages beyond 3km distance from IB back to their villages after lull in firing but with fresh ceasefire violations in RS Pura last night, the families have been asked to continue in camps.
At least eight people have been killed and over 90 injured in Pakistani shelling and firing on Indian posts and border villages in Jammu and Kashmir since October 1.