Four civilians injured in Pak shelling

'Pakistan Army regulars take over IB from Rangers'

At least four civilians, including two children, were injured in heavy mortar shelling by Pakistani troops along International Border (IB) in Jammu frontier on Thursday evening.

Sources said in the latest incident Pakistani Rangers pounded border outposts (BoPs) and civilian areas with 82mm mortar bombs along the IB in Kanachak and Akhnoor areas of Jammu district from 6.45 pm.

“Four civilians, including two children, were injured by splinters from exploding mortars which landed in several houses in the border villages of Lalyal camp and other areas in Kanachak,” they said.

The BSF troops guarding the borderline took positions and put up strong defence, triggering heavy exchanges which were going on till late in the night, reports said.

Earlier in the day, Pakistani troops pounded Indian forward posts and civilian areas along the International Border in Jammu. BSF officials said there was shelling of mortar bombs, rockets and firing by automatic weapons on border outposts in Nikki Tawi areas of Jammu district and Ramgarh belts of Samba district since Wednesday night. 

“They (Pak Rangers) fired 82 mm mortar shells and rockets apart from Light Machine Guns (LMGs) in civilian areas as well,” they said and added BSF troops retaliated, resulting in heavy exchanges, which continued till 2:30 am Thursday.

Earlier, reports said there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the shelling and firing. Due to shelling, panic-stricken villagers have fled their homes to safety, it added.

Sources told Deccan Herald that Pakistan Army regulars have taken over the IB from Rangers at some places and were responsible for heavily pounding of forward Indian villages and posts in Jammu sector. 

Trooper killed

“Intelligence agencies have specific inputs that last night’s action in Arnia sector of Samba district was carried out by Sialkot Brigade of the Pakistan Army in which Chinaz post of 193 BSF was targeted, killing a paramilitary trooper Mukesh Lal Meena of Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan and injuring seven others,” they said.

Sources said that having failed to match the BSF, the Rangers took the help of Pakistan Army and it was Sialkot Brigade that has been raining mortars and resorting to firing with heavy arms all along Arnia sector, targeting forward villages and BSF posts.