*Number of migrants swells to 30,000, more camps identified
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 9: Three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and 12 civilians were injured as there was no let up in heavy mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistan Rangers all along 198 kilometers long International Border (IB) in Jammu sector since last night with at least 70 BSF posts and about 150 borders villages coming under intense shelling from Pakistan side, which raised number of the border migrants to around 30,000 by this evening with authorities opening more educational institutions and religious places to accommodate them.
Intensity of the shelling from Pakistan side was less last night as compared to preceding five nights in view of strong retaliation from the Indian side, which didn’t give the Rangers a chance to come out of their posts and bunkers and resort to shelling and firing. Exchange of shelling in all forward areas of Hiranagar, Samba, Ramgarh, Arnia, RS Pura, Kanachak and Pargwal sectors in Jammu region continued till late this morning in some of the areas.
Tonight when the reports last came in, there was no shelling or firing in any forward area on the IB.
Official sources told the Excelsior that mortar shells hit BSF post of SH Way in Arnia sector at 6.25 am today causing injuries to three BSF personnel. They have been identified as BS Rakhi, head constable, Irfan Khan and Meti, both constables of 192 BSF. The BSF personnel evacuated them from the forward posts and shifted them to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.
The BSF had given very effective retaliation to the Rangers from SH Way and surroundings posts of Arnia sector.
A mortar shell exploded in Main Bazaar of Arnia town between State Bank of India (SBI) and Jammu and Kashmir Bank (JKB) buildings snapping electricity lines of the town and leading to disruption of power supply at about 9.30 am today.
However, the PDD personnel with the help of few civilians putting up in Arnia town braved all odds and restored electricity supply within couple of hours.
Another mortar shell landed in Ward No. 3 of Arnia and exploded in front of the house of Girdhari Lal causing splinter injuries to his 27 years old wife Neha and damaging the house. Neha was evacuated from the house and shifted to hospital.
Another mortar shell fell at village Pindi in Arnia sector at 8.30 am today causing injuries to two brothers-Bittoo, 27 and Labba Ram, 17, both sons of Shallu Ram. They have also been admitted in the hospital.
Four more civilians were injured in different areas of Arnia after their houses were hit with mortars causing them extensive damage. They have been identified as Bittu Ram, 29, son of Shallo Ram and Shubam Kumar, 19, son of Karnail Singh, both residents of Pindi Charkan Kalan, Krishna Devi, 65, wife of Labhu Ram R/o Kathar and Ram Lal son of Banta Ram of Arnia.
Sources said during past couple of days Pakistan Rangers have changed the tactics and were resorting to more mortar shelling after Sunrise when they had clear view of forward Indian villages. Earlier, they were resorting to shelling in the night. The Rangers were directly targeting the houses of civilians in towns and villages to inflict casualties.
Yesterday also, two women were killed and five other civilians were injured in Pakistan shelling in the morning at Chilyari in Samba sector.
Several shells exploded in forward area of Nanga in Ramgarh sector in Samba district this morning.
SSP Samba Anil Magotra said a mortar shell exploded inside the house of Darshan Lal at Nanga causing injuries to his wife, Rani Devi and son Sunil Kumar when both of them were sleeping at 5″30 am today. They were shifted to the hospital. Several shells fell at Nanga in fields of the people causing extensive damage to grown up crops.
Three civilians were injured in night long mortar shelling in Kanachak sector. They have been identified as Bachan Lal alias Pappu and his wife Kamla Devi, residents of Kanachak town and Chaman Lal son of Bansi Lal R/o Sui, Kanachak. They have been shifted to the GMC Jammu.
Sources said all 11 persons including three BSF personnel injured in Pakistan shelling yesterday along the IB were responding to the treatment and their condition was stated to be “out of danger”.
A number of mortar shells fell around Kanachak police station at 11.30 pm last night in which police officials and jawans were trapped. They had a narrow escape as the shells didn’t fell on the police station. Later, the police personnel were taken to safety in a bullet proof vehicle. The cops shifted three injured of Kanachak to hospital during the night itself in bullet-proof vehicle.
Sources said the people continued to flee border villages in entire International Border right from Hiranagar to Pargwal and by late this evening, number of the migrants, according to independent estimates, has swelled to around 30,000. They included the people, who have taken shelter in the houses of their relatives while majority of migrants were putting up in the Government schools, religious places and community halls at Hiranagar, Ghagwal, Samba, Ramgarh, Bishnah, RS Pura, Domana, Marh, Kanachak and Pargwal.
Authorities were engaged in reserving more educational institutions for the people deserting their houses in the border areas and fleeing to safety. The schools, where the border migrants have taken shelter, have been closed for studies, sources said.
According to sources, nearly 70 BSF posts and 150 villages along the International Border were being shelled constantly by the Rangers. Previously, the shelling was confined to night hours only but now it was taking place even during the day’s time as the Rangers were bent upon inflicting casualties of civilians. It may be mentioned here that some of the migrants were shifting to the relief camps during the day and returning to their houses in the morning to feed cattle.
Sources said there was no forward village left in 198 kilometers long boundary from Hiranagar to Pargwal, which was unaffected of shelling and migration. The crops in most of the border areas have been damaged due to regular falling of mortar shells in the fields. The villagers were not venturing into the fields due to uninterrupted shelling and firing from Pakistan side.
DC Kathua, Dr Shahid Iqbal, SSP Kathua Mohan Lal, Additional SP Kathua Yogesh Sharma and SDPO Hiranagar Diwakar Singh today visited the border villages and relief camps. Iqbal said people from 39 border villages in three kilometers IB stretch have been evacuated to relief camps set up in Hiranagar town and other places. The villagers were being provided necessary facilities in the migrant camps, he added.
Three migrant camps were established in day time and 12 camps were established during evening. A total of 31 camps accommodating 7800 persons are functioning and migrants are being provided ration, blankets and medicines.
Sources said the migrant camps in Hiranagar, Ghagwal, Samba, Ramgarh, Bishnah, Arnia, RS Pura, Domana, Kanachak and Pargwal witnessing rush of the border villagers with every passing hour prompting the authorities to open more educational institutions even in the far off towns to accommodate them. According to rough estimates, about 30,000 people have so far migrated from the border villages and taken shelter in relief camps and houses of their relatives in safer areas.
Sources said several unexploded shells were also lying in the fields. Army and BSF were engaged in the task of safely defusing them.
Follow our WhatsApp channel