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2 killed, 4 hurt in heavy Pakistani shelling near LoC

Last updated on: August 23, 2014 09:40 IST

In a major ceasefire violation along the Line of Control, Pakistan Army on Saturday targeted 22 Border Security Force posts near the international border in R S Pura sector and Arania sub sector, killing two civilians and injuring four.

The deceased -- an eight-year-old child and his father -- and those injured are members of the same family. 

Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Shant Manu told rediff.com that a Pakistani mortar shell hit the family's house in Chakrohi village.

The injured have been shifted to the Jammu Medical College for treatment.

"Pakistan Rangers fired long-range mortars and opened fire with heavy and medium machine guns. The firing by Pakistani troops is still on. The BSF has started retaliating," a BSF officer said.

Reports from the area said the Pakistan Rangers were using heavy weapons to target BSF posts.

Forced by Pakistan firing, more than 2,000 villagers from three villages close to the international border in R S Pura sector had on Friday migrated to safer places leaving their homes and cattle behind.

Under the state government's contingency plan, the villagers have been temporarily accommodated in two government high school buildings and an Industrial Training Institute building.

Pakisatni Army has violated the ceasefire 14 times in the past 12 days.

On August 20, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire twice in Mangalnarh forward belt of Rajouri's Manjakote sub-sector and Hamirpur sub-sector of Poonch district.

On August 19, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire twice by resorting to firing at Indian forward posts along the LoC in Hamirpur sub-sector of Poonch district

On the intervening night of August 17 and 18, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy night-long mortar shelling and firing in Arnia and R S Pura sub-sectors of Jammu district, in which one villager was injured.

Pakistan troops had violated the ceasefire twice on August 17 by resorting to heavy firing with automatic and small arms along Arnia sub-sector along IB and Hamirpur sub-sector along Line of Control in Jammu and Poonch districts.

On August 14, Pakistani troops had resorted to unprovoked small arms and automatic weapons firing on Indian posts in Poonch district. There were two other violations in Balakote and Hamirpur sectors in Poonch on August 14.

On August 13, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing on forward posts along LoC in Poonch district, in which one jawan was injured.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire on August 12 by firing on 5 BoPs and civilian areas along the IB in Jammu district.

On August 11, two BSF jawans were among four persons injured when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Arnia and R S Pura belts of Jammu district and on August 10, Pak violated ceasefire along LoC in Poonch district.

Additional Inputs: PTI

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar