With death stalking every nook and corner ‘battered’ border residents across Jammu frontier continue to live under constant fear due to ‘unabated’ mortar shelling from the Pakistani side since January 17. Though deceptive calm prevailed during the day, fresh firing resumed late Sunday evening in which one villager lost his life in Kanachak sector of Akhnoor.
Two more civilians were rushed to the Government medical college hospital from Kanachak sector late sunday evening.
Mortar shells started raining after 8.30 p.m along the International border across different sectors of Jammu frontier.
According to initial reports BSF jawans too started retaliating the fire ‘strongly’ and ‘effectively’. Two civilians received splinter injuries and were rushed to the nearby hospital from Kanachak sector. One of them was declared brought dead. The duo were real brothers and identified as Gopal Dass Bawa and Ram Dass Bawa. According to official sources, “Gopal Dass was declared brought dead”.
The situation along the line of control continue to remain tense as one more Indian soldier who was injured during ‘unprovoked’ and indiscriminate firing succumbed to his injuries late night on Saturday. The total death toll on sunday reached 12 with seven civilians, 3 army jawans and two BSF jawans losing their lives so far.
Defence Spokesman in Jammu said, ‘ Signalman Chandan Kumar Rai, hailing from district Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh, received grievous injuries in Mendhar sector on saturday.He later succumbed to his injuries a the military hospital,spokesman said. Meanwhile, fresh firing resumed in Nowshera area of Rajouri after 6.00 p.m. on sunday. Several forward areas and Indian posts were targeted by the Pakistan army in the fresh offensive.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary while confirming the reports of fresh firing tweeted, “ heavy shelling reported in Bhawani, Karali, Sair, Numb and Makri area”.
After the advisory was issued by the State Government to villagers to vacate their houses and shift to safer areas on saturday majority of population from across 60 villages of RS Pura/Arnia belt relocated to safer places. Those who were left behind utilised the brief lull period on sunday to move their essential house hold items on tractor trolleys.
Rough estimates suggested over 30,000 border residents have taken shelter at safer locations. Only handful of villagers are still camping in forward villages to look after the livestock and their homes.
In RS Pura a family of ex-serviceman,after spending the night along with the dead body of their loved one in a relief camp, performed his last rites with help from neighbors and local authorities on Sunday. Due to continuous shelling in the area the family could not perform the cremation on Saturday. Ghar Singh, resident of Abdullian, had received splinter injuries early Saturday morning and was brought dead in the nearby hospital. One of his son,serving in the Indian army, could not make it to the last rites as he was away on his posting. Majority of villages in RS Pura targeted by the Pak shelling continue to remain powerless as PDD department is yet to repair and restore the power lines. More than 300 schools across International border and line of control are closed down due to ongoing shelling in the region.