After pleading for ceasefire, Pakistan Rangers opens heavy fire in Jammu

Two civilians were injured in Arnia as Pakistani forces resumed firing in Arnia and Ramgarh area of RS Pura sector in Jammu and Samba districts Monday morning after a brief lull in the night.

Darshana Devi, wife of Tarlok Singh and Mohinder Kumar, son of Hans Raj both Pindi Charkan Kalan were shifted to Hospital by Arnia police around 9:30 am.

Pakistan Rangers had opened small arms fire and also used mortars in Arnia and Ramgarh late Sunday night, a few hours after pleading with the BSF for a ceasefire. Pakistani troops resumed the fire on Monday morning.

Additional deputy commissioner Dr Arun Manhas said that ceasefire violations were reported in Arnia Sector of Jammu.

“As precautionary measure schools within radius of 5 kilometres have been ordered to be closed. No loss of life and property has been reported,” he said.

A senior BSF officer said that Pakistan started firing mortars in the general area of Arnia around 7 am on Monday.

BSF posts Vikram, Chinaz and Jabowal are presently affected, he added.

The officer said that other areas too may come under similar fire.

In the recent times Pakistan, which first opens unprovoked fire, has pleaded for ceasefire on the hotline in a bid to buy breathing space after punitive response by the BSF.

On May 15 BSF constable Devendra Singh Baghel was killed in Pak firing in Manguchak area of Samba and on Friday, a day before Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the state, another BSF jawan constable Sita Ram Upadhyaya was among five others killed in Arnia and RS Pura sectors of Jammu district in intense Pak shelling that triggered migration of nearly 10,000 people to safer areas.

The Jammu district administration has set up six relief camps in RS Pura and Bishnah.