Ceasefire violation: Pakistan Rangers shelled almost the entire 192-km border overnight

Pakistan Rangers shelled almost the entire 192-km border overnight. Nearly 30,000 people have been displaced following one of the worst violations of the 2003 ceasefire by Pakistan which has left eight people dead and 80 others, including nine security men, injured since October 1. "Pakistani Rangers continued with unprovoked mortar shelling and heavy automatic weapon firing on BSF posts all along International Border (IB) since 2045 hours last night," a BSF spokesman said in Jammu. Jaitley said if Pakistan wants peace on the borders, it should stop what it is doing.

"Pakistan has to stop this unprovoked firing and shelling. As long as that continues how can there be peace." Asked about chances of talks between leaders of the two countries, he shot back, "how can you talk when firing is on?" Underlining that India is a responsible country which is not an aggressor but is responsible for fully protecting its people and land, the Defence Minister said, "Our forces are taking all steps they can to protect our people and land." Both Modi and Jaitley attacked the opposition leaders who have been criticising the government over its handling of the border situation. Targeting Pawar, who had slammed him for holding poll rallies in Maharashtra when there was tension on the border, Modi said, "When you were the defence minister, there were problems with Pakistan and China on the border. Did you ever bother to go to the border then?" "There have been terror strikes in Maharashtra during your tenure...Mumbai, Malegaon, Pune. You could not even reach the terrorists, leave alone catching them. In the spirit of patriotism, we never politicised the issue," he said.

Jaitley also attacked opposition leaders for their "ill-informed" criticism of the government over ceasefire violations. "They should at least know this much as to what extent our forces are going to protect the borders," he said. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has attacked the government over ceasefire violations and Chinese incursion, questioning its policies. Jaitley singled out Pawar, saying he should have been more informed as a former defence minister. Asked about Pakistan's motives behind the escalation, Jaitley said he would not like to speculate but firing could be a cover for infiltration and also an effort by it to precipitate tension where none existed. "Our forces have only one option which is to respond adequately," the Defence Minister said. He said many militants have been killed in firing since floods hit Jammu and Kashmir, an evidence of Pakistan's attempts to push more militants into Indian territory. Asked why Pakistan is doing it now, he said the question should be put to those across the border. 

"Twelve people including 3 BSF jawans were injured in shelling and firing," District Magistrate, Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu told PTI. Four of the civilians were injured in Kanachak belt, two in Samba, two in Chadka and 3 BSF jawans in Pindi and one in other place. However, the guns were silent along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. Over 30,000 people have been evacuated from border hamlets along IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba to safer places in view of the shelling, the DM said, adding that relief camps have been set up for them.

"Over 20,000 people have migrated from border hamlets in Jammu," Sahu said. In Kathua and Samba, over 7,000 and 3,000 border people have migrated, officials said. As per the District officials border people from 113 hamlet located close to the IB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua had migrated and taken refugee either at shelter camps or with their relatives. "As many as over 50 border hamlets and Arnia town along IB in Jammu district is now fully or partially deserted. People have migrated from these villages," Sahu said. Like him, District Magistrate of Samba, Mubarak Singh said that people from over 20 border hamlets along IB in Samba have shifted, thereby, deserting the villages.

As District Magistrate of Kathua, Shahid Iqbal people from 43 border villages have been shifted in view of heavy shelling across IB in Hiranagar sector. Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up 24 camps to accommodate evacuees from the border areas, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantu Manu said. "Crisis management groups has been activated in the borderline from Poonch to Kathua district," IGP Jammu Rajesh Kumar said. He said that one each group will be deployed in all these places along the border to evacuate people and provide them food and shelter. "All civilian departments besides Police are part of this group which undertake evacuation in emergency situation," he added.