Five injured in Pakistani overnight shelling in J&K

Jammu: At least five people were injured in overnight shelling by Pakistan Rangers on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, police said Thursday.

A senior police officer told IANS in winter capital Jammu that Pakistan Rangers continued mortar shelling and automatic weapons firing in Akhnoor, Ramgarh, Arnia and Kanachak sectors along the international border during the night.

'Five civilians have been injured in Pakistani shelling during the night. Two people were injured in Ramgarh sector of Samba district while three injured in Kanachak area of Akhnoor sector of Jammu district,' the police officer said.

All the injured have been shifted to government medical college (GMC) hospital in Jammu city.

'A mortar shell fired by Pakistan Rangers exploded in Arnia town during the night, but no casualty occurred because residents of the town have already moved to safer locations.'

Intermittent firing exchanges between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers are still going on at some places on the border.

With these injuries, the total number of injured in Pakistani shelling has gone up to 60.

Seven civilians have been killed so far in the targeted firing from the Pakistani side in civilian areas close to the border since Oct 6.

Over 20,000 people from the border villages have abandoned their homes to avoid being targeted by Pakistani shelling of civilian habitations in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.

Meanwhile, Jitendra Singh, minister of state (PMO), who visited the affected areas Wednesday in Jammu and Samba districts told reporters the BSF has been adequately responding to Pakistan's ceasefire violations on the international border.