India
Pakistani forces are using heavy calibre long range weapons including 120 mm mortars, with a range of seven kilometres, and 82 mm mortars, having range of 4.5 kilometres, to inflict maximum damage deep into the civilian areas near the IB.
Updated : Sep 24, 2017, 07:00 AM IST
Fear has replaced festivities in the border areas, which have virtually become ghost towns, with Pakistan continuing shelling on the civilian areas along the International Border in the Arnia and Ramgarh sectors of Jammu division.
Police said three jawans and two civilians were injured in the fresh cross-border shelling in RS Pora and Ramgarh sectors during Friday night. Pakistan Rangers used mortars, automatics and small arms to target over half a dozen BSF out posts and civilian areas in the firing that started at 10 pm.
Pakistani forces are using heavy calibre long range weapons including 120 mm mortars, with a range of seven kilometres, and 82 mm mortars, having range of 4.5 kilometres, to inflict maximum damage deep into the civilian areas near the IB.
Police said the Arnia town and neighbouring areas have turned into ghost towns as hundreds of families have abandoned their homes and taken shelter either in relief camps or escape Pakistani shelling.
"Around 15 to 20 houses have been damaged in the shelling. Three animals have died. Three civilians were injured. Entire Arnia town was deserted in the night. People took shelter at friends and relatives homes elsewhere. Some also came to our shelter houses to escape shelling," said Surinder Chaudhary, sub-divisional police officer, RS Pora.
"We are staying at our relatives homes for night. During the day male members visit homes to take care and feed the animals," said a local resident from Arnia.
State government has established 15 shelter camps for the shelling-affected of Arnia sector. Police said around 727 civilians trapped in different places in Arnia sector were evacuated to safer places two days ago.