Pakistan opens fire on 8 Indian posts in Jammu’s Arnia sub-sector

A day after killing a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan and injuring a civilian, Pakistani Rangers opened heavy fire on six to eight Indian posts along the international border in Arnia sub-sector of RS Pura in Jammu district on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) responded in equal measure, its Jammu frontier DIG Dharmender Pareekh said. “From mid night till Saturday morning there were exchanges of fire and shelling in Arnia sector in area of 6 to 8 border outposts of BSF,” DIF Pareekh said.

The firing stopped at 6.45am and no loss of human life or injuries to anyone was reported, he added.

But, an Arnia police station officer said Pakistan resorted to indiscriminate firing with small and heavy weapons at Sai, Treva and Jabowal forward posts.

He said three cattle died, three others were injured and three houses and a temple were damaged in the firing.

Arnia tehsildar has ordered closure of schools coming within 5km range of border.

On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, Pakistani Rangers had shot dead BSF constable Brijendra Bahadur Singh in a sniper fire in Arnia sector, prompting BSF to retaliate stingingly.

On Friday morning, a civilian Ajay Kumar of Suhagpur Powal was injured when a shell exploded on a road while he was coming out of a rice mill. Two Pakistani soldiers were also killed in retaliatory action by the BSF on Thursday.

Home minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to Jammu on September 12 had reiterated his word of advice to the BSF and Army to not to open first fire but stop counting their bullets if Pakistan fired even a one at India.