Four more dead as Pak shelling continues

Two civilians and a Border Security Force (BSF) head constable were killed along with an Army personnel while 26 others were injured after Pakistan Rangers extended their shelling to newer areas along the International Border (IB) in the Jammu division on Friday.

Hundreds of people living near the border were evacuated to safer areas by the government as they were falling in the direct firing zone of Pakistan Rangers.

An Army soldier was also killed in the indiscriminate firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district in Jammu.

"Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. However, in the exchange of fire, Lance Naik Sam Abraham was grievously injured and later succumbed," Colonel NN Joshi, defence spokesman at Jammu, said.

"On Jammu IB, retaliating unprovoked fire from Pakistan forces, Head Constable Jagpal Singh of 173th battalion attained martyrdom today. Director General of BSF and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of Head Constable Jagpal Singh and offer condolences to the family of brave-heart," tweeted BSF.

The death toll in the ceasefire violations has now touched five in the last 24 hours. A BSF head Constable and a 17-year-old girl was killed in the shelling on Wednesday night.

"We have used bulletproof (mobile) bunkers and shifted the people in the firing range to secure areas. Eighty per cent of the people who were falling in the firing range were shifted to secure zones in RS Pura and Arnia areas. We have set up lodging centres at Bishna and RS Pura," said Arun Manhas, additional deputy commissioner, Jammu.