3 civilians killed in Pak shelling

Three civilians, including two women, were killed and 17 others were wounded in heavy mortar shelling by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border in RS Pura Sector on Friday. Following India’s retaliation, both sides summoned each other’s envoys to lodge their protests. The fresh offensive from the Pakistan was reported after a gap of ten days, but it coincided with the 50th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan in 1965 war.

Earlier, six civilians were killed in heavy Pak shelling along the line of Control (loC) in Poonch district on August 15-16.It appears Pakistani troops have strategically shifted the battle front from the loC to the International Border ahead of DG-level talks between BSF and Pakistan Rangers to be held on September 9 in New Delhi.

After the NSA-level talks were called off both the sides are now expected to trade charges over “unprovoked” firing in civilian pockets. According to local villagers, the mortar shelling which started past midnight and continued till wee hours on Friday was one of the most brazen acts of ceasefire violation in the recent months along the International Border in Jammu. 

The residents of several border villages were engaged in their routine chores when mortar shells started landing on their courtyards and some even exploded inside their houses after piercing the rooftops. Panicky people rushed to safety and took shelter inside bunkers.

Pawan Kumar and his father Jeet Singh of Abdullian Village were feeding livestock when a mortar shell landed on the premises. Pawan succumbed to his injuries even before reaching the hospital in RS Pura while Jeet Singh’s right arm was injured. 

Banso Devi was hit with splinters in the veranda of her house and  died on the spot. Her sister-in-law Kanta Devi, injured in the mortar firing, later succumbed to her  injuries at the GMC, Jammu. 

Seven  other villagers injured in the mortar shelling are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.  Three  civilians were injured in Jeora farm area, two in Chandu Chak, seven in Abdullian, five in Village Sai and two others in BuriJal of RS Pura.  

BSF spokesperson in Jammu said, “At least one dozen border posts and large number of civilian areas were  targeted by the Pakistan Rangers till early Friday morning. The Rangers  initially used small arms but later on mortars shells were used to target BSF posts and civilian areas in RS Pura and Arnia sectors”.

The firing started around 0145 hours along the IB in Kishanpur, Jeora Form, Jugnu Chak, Nawapind, Gharana, Sai, Abdullian and Chandu Chak areas in RS Pura sector and other areas in Arnia sector from 0430 hours, a police officer said.Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed strongly condemned the killing of innocent civilians. 

Condemning shelling by Pakistan troops Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said time has come when international community should declare Pak a “terrorist State” as the country is using terrorism as an instrument of international diplomacy.

Meanwhile in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to express India’s anguish. During Basit’s meeting with Secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa, the Indian side asked Pakistan to stop firing immediately and allow peace to prevail at the loC, and working borders, that have been witnessing heavy activity over the last one year with at least 245 major ceasefire violations reported. 

This is the second time Basit has been summoned in the last ten days by the MEA over ceasefire violations.In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office summoned Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan to lodge a “strong protest over unprovoked Indian firing” on the international border. Pakistan claims six people died and 46 others were injured in shelling in Sialkot, Chaprar and Harpal sectors. 

There has been a sudden increase in ceasefire violation in the last one year. External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj said last week that there have been 91 ceasefire violations by Pakistan since Ufa talks in Russia between the two Prime Ministers where the two sides decided to resolve their issues through bilateral talks to be held at different levels.