After a two-day lull in cross-border firing and shelling, Pakistani troops targeted Indian border outposts and villages along the International Border (IB) in the Jammu and Samba districts today, injuring three civilians, a senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer said.
“Pakistan Rangers started unprovoked firing and later shelling in the Arnia Sector, targeting BSF posts. The firing continued till this morning,” the officer said, adding that Indian troops retaliated effectively.
Around 0350 hours, Pakistani troops heavily shelled the hamlet of Jerdha in the Ramgarh sector of the Samba district, the officer said.
Arnia Khurd, Pindi, Kathar, Jabowal and Kol Khurd in the Arnia sector also witnessed shelling by Pakistani forces.
Three people were injured in the shelling. Several houses were damaged and over a dozen cattle were killed in the firing, a police officer said. There was continuous firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) from September 13-18.
A BSF jawan and a civilian were killed and 12 others injured in the shelling and firing by Pakistani troops in the Jammu and Poonch districts during the period. On the intervening night of September 17 and September 18, Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked fire in Arnia Sector, and later resorted to mortar shelling.