Another major ceasefire violation by Pakistan: 40 BSF posts attacked
JAMMU: Extending ceasefire violations to Samba district, Pakistan troops heavily shelled and fired upon 40 Border Out Posts (BoPs) and 24 villages along the international border in Jammu and Samba districts, leaving three persons injured.
BSF troops gave a befitting reply by responding strongly with equal caliber weapons to Pakistan's firing which resulted in heavy exchange of fire, which continued till 7am, a BSF officer said.
"Pak Rangers resorted to heavy firing of small and automatic weapons and shelling of mortars bombs on 35 to 40 BoPs and civilian areas along IB in Arnia and R S Pura sub-sectors of Jammu district from 2130 hours last night" the officer said.
This is the first time that Pakistani Rangers have extended the ceasefire violation to Samba district.
Pakistan targeted BoPs and Border hamlets along IB in Arnia, R Pura, Kanachak, Akhnoor sub-sectors of Jammu district and Ramgarh sector of Samba district.
As per the official reports, Pakistan also targeted 24 border villages throughout the night till Monday morning.
"Although there was no human loss, three civilians have been injured in shelling. They included two people in Flora village and and one in Khothar besides injuries to cattle in Jora Farm area in R S Pura belt," sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), R S Pura, Devender Singh said.
Pakistani rangers rained 52mm and 82mm mortar shells apart from using LMGs, MMGs and automatic weapons on at least 40 BoPs and 24 border hamlets triggering panic and fear among the people living along the border in Jammu and Samba districts.
There have been 21 ceasefire violations in less then a fortnight and 23 in the month of August.
Since July 16, there have been 33 ceasefire violations. Meanwhile, BJP national president Amit Shah and MoS PMO Jitendra Singh are visiting people who have migrated from border hamlets and are put up in safe shelters in R S Pura on Monday.
Omar wants talks to continue
J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday controversially linked the shelling of border villages by Pakistan to the calling off of the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries by the Narendra Modi government.
A desperate Omar, perhaps trying to offset anti-incumbency in state elections later this year, appeared to bat for the separatists while telling reporters here soon after returning from a holiday in London, "I hope there is some rethink on this (calling off of talks with Pakistan)."
Ceasefire violations cost lives
Four militants, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, and a soldier were killed on Sunday in an encounter near the line of control in Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir.
"Four militants have been killed in an operation in Kalaroos area of Kupwara district," an Army spokesman said here.
One soldier Naik Neeraj Kumar who was injured during the operation and later airlifted to 92 Base hospital in Srinagar, succumbed, he said.
Another major ceasefire violation by Pakistan: 40 BSF posts attacked - The Times of India