Two Indian soldiers, one each from Army and Border Security Force (BSF) were martyred while two civilians were killed and over two dozen border residents received splinter injuries during day long exchange of firing along the International Border across Jammu frontier and along the line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts on Friday.
On ground zero at least 50 Border outposts of BSF spread across three districts of Kathua, Samba and Jammu were engaged and retaliating strongly to extreme provocations from the Pakistani side since early morning. Unconfirmed reports claimed that Pakistani side too has suffered heavy damages but so far there has been no official confirmation.
The cross border firing started around 6.30 a.m and continued intermittently throughout the day. A middle aged woman identified as Bachno Devi succumbed to her fatal injuries in Arnia while a young boy fell victim to mortar shell in RS Pura.He had received splinter injuries on his head and neck. local villagers were unhappy with the local authorities as they failed to rush the injured to a nearby hospital in time.
Heavy exchange of fire resumed late Friday evening, triggering panic among the border residents.
As war like situation was emerging in several forward villages of Arnia, RS Pura, Ramgarh, Hiranagar, Ghagwal, Rajbagh hundreds of border residents rushed to safety in private vehicles.
Educational institutions remained closed in the forward areas for the second consecutive day. In some of the most vulnerable pockets bullet proof mobile bunkers were deployed by the State police to evacuate women,senior citizens and children to safety from several forward villages.
At many places women came rushing out of their houses holding their infants close to their chest. Other family members stepped out holding small bags with milk bottles and dry ration for children along with their medicines.
The senior citizens were helped by police jawans and youngsters before shifting them to nearby mobile bunkers.
Meanwhile, large number of houses and live stock suffered major brunt of mortar shelling in the forward villages falling in the direct line of fire across RS Pura and Ramgarh sector.
Senior State police officers and other civilian authorities were camping at different places to facilitate safe evacuation of villagers to safer places.
According to BSF, head constable Jagpal Singh of the BSF’s 173 rd battalion posted near the Chillyari border outpost in Samba sector, attained martyrdom in the line of duty. Singh hailed from Rajasthan.
According to Defence spokesman in Jammu, “Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of Small arms, automatics and mortars around 1.30 p.m in Sunderbani sector along the line of Control (lC) in Rajouri. Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively.
However, in the exchange of fire, lance Naik Sam Abraham was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries.
lance Naik Sam Abraham, aged 34 belonged to Village Poonakam, District Allepey, Kerala and is survived by his wife Anu Mathew and daughter aged 1 year and 10 months.
According to police spokesman 26 people – including two BSF personnel received splinter injuries during cross border firing. The injured security personnel were identified as head constables Sat Paul Singh and Adarsh SS.
Over one dozen injured were rushed to Government medical college hospital in Jammu for better management of splinter injuries.
MOS PMO Dr Jitendera Singh and Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Singh visited the hospital to meet injured civilians.
Meanwhile, Pakistan army also targeted forward Indian posts along the line of control (loC) in Jhangar area in Rajouri’s Nowshera sector friday afternoon. “An alert was sounded after heavy shelling was reported there,” said Rajouri deputy commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.
Schools in affected areas have been closed as a precautionary measure.