Pakistani troops on Tuesday came close to breaching the threshold of patience of the Indian establishment as it killed eight civilians, including two minors and four women, by heavily shelling villages along the International Border in Ramgarh sector of Samba and the line of Control in Rajouri district. 22 civilians received serious injuries in the day-long exchange of cross-border firing across different sectors in the region.
This is the highest number of civilian casualties reported in recent years after the ceasefire agreement was announced in November 2003.
launching a counter offensive Indian border guards claimed to have decimated at least 14 Pakistani border posts opposite Ramgarh and Arnia sub-sectors on Tuesday afternoon.
According to official sources, “Six civilians were killed in Samba and two women succumbed to their fatal injuries in Tarkundi area of Rajori on Tuesday”.
Several hundred villagers were evacuated to safety by the district authorities in Samba, Jammu and Rajori districts as border tensions mounted.
Defence spokesperson lieutenant Colonel Munish Mehta told The Pioneer, “The ceasefire violation was first reported in Naushera sector around 5.30 am on Tuesday.”
He said the Pakistan Army resorted to use of 120 mm, 82 mm and automatic and small arms fire to target the forward Indian posts.
“Some of the civilian areas were also hit by Pakistan Army. Indian troops gave them a befitting reply using similar calibre of weapons. From 9 am onwards Pakistan Army also trained their guns towards Indian villages and forward posts in Balakote sector of Poonch,” he added.
Meanwhile, several houses along the IB came under the line of direct fire as Pakistan Rangers pounded them using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars.
Fearing fresh escalation the district authorities in Jammu, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch have closed down all educational institutions in the border areas. According to official sources, “over 300 schools have been shut down till further orders”.
Border Security Force Jammu frontier Deputy Inspector General, Dharmender Pareekh, Tuesday said, “Pakistan Rangers pounded several forward villages in Ramgarh and Arnia sub-sectors using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars.” He said BSF jawans also gave them a befitting reply.
Expressing deep anguish and grave concern over the loss of innocent human lives and destruction of properties in unabated border shelling in Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday made a fervent appeal for peace and political dialogue between India and Pakistan to de-escalate the perilously hostile situation prevailing in the region.
“I am deeply pained over the fresh spate of civilian killings, including children and women, in border shelling and urge the political leadership in New Delhi and Islamabad to take effective and urgent measures to de-escalate the situation and bring an end to the miseries of the hapless people of Jammu & Kashmir who are caught in the deadly crossfire,” the Chief Minister said.
She said the unabated border shelling has seen a tragic humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, where innocent civilians and their properties are being targeted. “We in J&K yearn for peace as we have been suffering immensely because of the hostility and violence in the region and know very well its dangers and perilous consequences,” she said and added that India and Pakistan must open the channels of communication, at the earliest, realising the dangerous consequences of any escalation of ongoing confrontation along the borders.