Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 18: There was no let up in mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani Rangers along the International Border (IB) in Arnia sector for third consecutive night last night. The latest round of shelling rendered some and other structures damaged but there were no casualties either on BSF side or civilians.
“Intensity of mortar shelling and firing was very less last night as compared to the two previous nights when shelling had continued throughout the night. However, shelling, which started around 9.30 pm last night, stopped around 11.30 pm though intermittent firing with small arms continued till wee hours of this morning,’’ official sources told the Excelsior.
They said Arnia town was comparatively less targeted last night as shelling was confined to border villages. The BSF retaliated very effectively at all the places to silence the Pakistani guns, which were targeting civilian population.
Heavy exchange of shelling and firing lasted till midnight last night, sources said, adding that there were no casualties on Indian side last night. However, some houses and other structures suffered damages and few cattle were injured.
Pakistan was reported to have suffered some more damages last night in retaliatory shelling by the BSF.
Sources said some people from forward villages of Arnia and RS Pura have migrated to the houses of their relatives in safer areas in view of continued shelling and firing from across the border while few others have taken shelter in the relief camps. However, majority of people continued to put up in their houses, braving shelling and firing by Pakistan side.
People not only in Arnia sector but also in neighbouring RS Pura and Ramgarh sectors remained in panic though they haven’t left their houses. The border people felt that in frustration, Pakistan could target more civilian areas on the International Border to cause casualties and damages.
So far, a woman and a BSF jawan have been martyred in Pakistan shelling while half a dozen others were injured. Pakistan had yesterday claimed that it has lost 10 persons including two Rangers in BSF firing. Large number of border people on Pakistan side have deserted their houses.
Sources said the BSF has been retaliating Pakistan’s unprovoked firing and shelling very effectively as there had been reports that Lashkar-e-Toiba’s militants have also mixed up with Pakistan army to target the BSF and infiltrate into the Indian territory. Taking no chance, the BSF was taking all steps to counter infiltration attempts by the militants on the International Border.
As reported, unprovoked mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistani Rangers on the BSF posts and civilian areas was also aimed at diverting attention of the troopers and civilians to push the armed infiltrators into this side.
However, according to sources, the BSF was maintaining strict surveillance on both fronts—tackling ceasefire violations and infiltration by the militants under the cover of shelling and firing by the Rangers.
During past few months, Pakistan army had been targeting Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri by pounding civilian areas. However, it has recently shifted focus towards the International Border.
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