In one of the worst ceasefire violations by Pakistan, five villagers were killed and 29 injured today in heavy mortar shelling and firing from across the international border and Line of Control in Jammu and Poonch sectors.
Pakistani troops indulged in heavy and unprovoked firing and shelling of mortars on 10 border outposts (BoPs) and civilian areas along international border (IB) in Arnia belt of Jammu district from 10 PM spilling over to this morning, a BSF spokesman said.
BSF troops retaliated effectively and gave a befitting reply, he said, adding that the intermittent firing exchanges were on in the area when reports last came in.
In the shelling, five villagers were killed and 29 injured in several hamlets, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), R S Pura Tehsil, Devender Singh told PTI.
The Pakistani troops also resorted to mortar shelling and firing on forward posts along LoC in Bhimber Gali belt of Poonch district since 0830 hours today, a Defence Spokesman said.
After the fresh escalation, India asserted that Pakistan must put an immediate end to ceasefire violations.
"Pakistan should stop ceasefire violations now and understand the reality that times have changed in India," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.
The Pakistani troops used small, automatic weapons and mortar bombs to target the border hamlets and BoPs.
25 of the injured have been shifted to GMC hospital Jammu.
On October 3, Pakistani troops and rangers violated ceasefire in Gulamarg sector of Kashmir Valley and in Poonch and Jammu sectors in which a girl was killed and six persons were injured.
There have been a dozen ceasefire violations along Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir during last four days.
A large number of houses were damaged and livestock perished in the firing and shelling, said Devender Singh, who was leading a team that shifted the injured people to hospital during the heavy shelling.
"People living in critical zones along the border will be evacuated," he said
The BSF spokesman said that the force did not suffer any casualty.
