Bloodbath continued on the second day of the holy month of Ramzan, this time along the International Border across Jammu frontier. Four civilians, including a couple, were killed while one BSF jawan attained martyrdom on Friday in ‘unprovoked’ cross-border shelling from Pakistan side ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s day-long Jammu & Kashmir visit on Saturday.

The entire security grid is kept on high alert to prevent any infiltrator from sneaking into the Indian territory to launch any strike coinciding with the VVIP visit in the region.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed deep shock and grief over the deaths in the RS Pura sector. In a tweet, she said, “Continued firing on the border in Jammu is cause of pain & worry. Sad that while our country took the lead in starting peace initiatives with cessation of operations during Ramzan, Pakistan has shown no respect whatsoever for this holy month. Pakistan will have to reciprocate & contribute to efforts for lasting peace. Everyone must realise that violence is a zero sum game. My deepest condolences to families of victims”.

Meanwhile, an estimated population of over 20,000 scattered across 70-80 villages in the border belt was affected in the heavy mortar shelling which started past midnight.

Local police authorities utilised bulletproof bunkers in the area to shift village elders and children to safer locations.

All educational institutions were closed down in the radius of 3-5 km from the International Border to ensure safety of children.

On the other hand, tension prevailed in the entire border belt as several civilian houses in the area borne the maximum brunt of mortar shelling which lasted till late afternoon on Friday. Main streets of forward villages wore a deserted look after local residents were shifted to safer places to escape fury of mortar shelling from Pakistani side.

According to a BSF spokesman, “a BSF constable identified as Sitaram Upadhyay, from Jharkhand, attained martyrdom in Arnia sub-sector of RS Pura in heavy cross-border firing around 1.35 am”.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Arun Manhas said, “Four civilians were killed and 12 others were injured in cross-border firing in the region till last reports came in”.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu range, SDS Jamwal said, “Following continuous border shelling in RS Pura area on Friday, a large number of villagers were safely evacuated.

A couple from Chandu Chak village of RS Pura were killed on the spot when a mortar shell fired by Pakistani Rangers landed in the courtyard of their house.

Shards of mirror lay scattered near dead bodies in a pool of blood amid punctured walls and household utensils kept in a basket near a bench.

The couple were identified as Tarsem Lal (52), an employee of the State Agriculture Department, and Manjeet Kour(45).

The couple are survived by three sons, the youngest one is currently serving in the Indian Army while two others are farmers. According to their close relatives living in the neighborhood, “Tarsem had returned home after asking about the well being of his neighbours when another shell landed in his own house killing him and his wife on the spot around 8 am.

Villagers later staged protests as they alleged the administration failed to provide timely assistance by rushing bulletproof vehicle or an ambulance to shift the injured to the nearby hospital.

Locals later shifted the dead bodies in tractor trolleys and blocked RS Pura road for several hours.

Two other civilians, identified as 60-year-old Satpal and 45-year-old Jagmohan, received splinter injuries and died on the spot when a mortar shell was landed on a busy street in Tareva village of Arnia around 9 am. At least 12 others received injuries and were undergoing treatment in the Government Medical college hospital.

Inspector General BSF, Jammu frontier, Ram Awtar attended wreath-laying ceremony of the BSF martyr along with senior Cabinet Minister Satpal Sharma and several other State Government and police officers.

To contain people’s anger in the border belt, Public Health Engineering Minister Sham Lal Choudhary chaired a meeting with local authorities in the area and took stock of the situation. The Minister was informed that six camps have been set up as temporary shelters of people shifted from border villages. These camps have been established at Bana Singh Stadium, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, RS Pura, Government Boys Higher Secondary School, RS Pura, Social Welfare office RS Pura, Government Higher Secondary School, Pindi Sarochan and Government Higher Secondary School, Dablehar.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Saturday, 19 May 2018 | Mohit Kandhari