Six people, including two BSF men, have been killed and over two dozen injured in the cross-border shelling since May 15 on the International Border in the Jammu division.
Hundreds of people have fled their homes after Pakistan Rangers shelled civilian areas, leaving seven people injured along the International Border (IB) in Arnia and RS Pura sectors of Jammu division.
All the schools and educational institutions on the IB have been closed and people have been asked to shift to safer areas after intense shelling from Pakistan.
The fresh bout of shelling started on Sunday night when Pakistan Rangers used heavy caliber weapons to target civilian areas, deep inside the hinterland.
Pakistan Rangers also shelled the police station in Arnia, injuring a Special Police Officer. Six others were injured in different villages in the Arnia.
Pakistan Rangers have used long range weapons including 120-mm mortars, which has a range of seven kilometres, and 82 mm mortars, having range of 4.5 kilometres, to inflict maximum damage deep into the civilian areas.
"There was heavy shelling since morning. The shelling was so heavy that some shells landed in the interior of the Arnia town. One shell landed on the police station. We have asked the people in the Arnia town to vacate. The population of the town must be 10,000-12,000," said Arun Manhas, additional deputy commissioner, Jammu.
The fresh shelling has occurred a day after Pakistan pleaded for ceasefire after BSF launched a fire assault, destroying the Rangers post on the other side of the International Border.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti visited RS Pura and condoled with the families whose kin were killed in cross-border shelling at Arnia and RS Pura.
Six people, including two BSF men, have been killed and over two dozen injured in the cross-border shelling since May 15 on the International Border in the Jammu division.
"People of the state, who have gone through very tough times in the past and want to live a peaceful life, free from violence and killings. Centre's move of halting security operations has generated hope among people, who expect positive reciprocation by all stakeholders to let people of the state come out of the zero-sum game of killings and uncertainty," she said.
The chief minister said that the way North and South Korea decided to walk on peaceful engagement is an encouraging signal to the entire world, signalling that issues, no matter how complex, can only be settled through negotiations peacefully as violence only kills, both humans and the spirit as well.
Chief Minister Mufti disbursed cash assistance of Rs one lakh each among the families whose kin were killed in the cross-border shelling of past few days. This assistance is over and above the ex-gratia relief already paid to them through Jammu Divisional administration. She also directed the Jammu Divisional administration to prepare a report of the damages suffered (to houses and dwelling units) during the border shelling.
Safety First
- All schools and educational institutions on the IB have been closed and people have been asked to shift to safer areas.
- Pakistan Rangers also shelled the police station in Arnia
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