SRINAGAR: On the 50th anniversary of the India-Pakistan 1965 war, Pakistani troops violated the border ceasefire yet again and fired from heavy weapons and resorted to mortar shelling towards BSF posts and civilian areas along the International Border (IB) in R S Pura and Arnia sectors in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, causing death of three civilians including two women and injuries to 16 others.
“Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing from small arms on BSF posts during the midnight in R S Pura and Arnia sectors in Jammu,” a BSF officer told Express. He said Pakistani troops fired on at least 10 BSF posts. “The border guards effectively returned the fire from similar caliber weapons,” he added.
The official said around 3 am, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy mortar shelling on civilian areas and BSF posts in both R S Pura and Arnia sector. “The Pakistani troops also fired from heavy machine guns towards our posts and civilian areas,” he said. Some mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops landed deep in the civilian areas causing casualties and injuries among civilians.
The civilian areas where the mortar shells landed included Kishanpur, Jora Farm, Jugnu Chak, Nawapind, Gharna, Sia Khurd, Abdullian and Chandu Chak areas.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Pawan Kotwal told Express that three civilians including two women were killed and 16 others injured in Pakistan troops shelling in R S Pura and Arnia sectors.
The deceased were identified as Banso Devi of Sia Khurd village, Kanta Devi wife of Subash Chandar of Sia Khurd village and Pawan Kumar of Abdullian village.
As many as 16 civilians injured in the shelling were shifted to Government Medical College, Jammu, for specialized treatment. The BSF officer said the border guards gave a befitting reply to Pakistani troops and effectively returned the fire. Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, strongly condemned the killing of civilians and injuries to many others in the persistent shelling from across the border.