As Pakistan continued to violate ceasefire on Tuesday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the neighbouring country was not "mending its ways" despite India favouring peace even as he asserted that the security forces were given the freedom to retaliate in the manner they thought to be the best.

His stern message came in the backdrop of at least six people including four civilians and two BSF personnel getting killed in relentless firing by Pakistan in the last seven days. In the latest bout of firing on Tuesday sixteen people including three BSF jawans suffered injuries.

Hamlets along the international border were targeted forcing inhabitants to flee to secure places. Educational institutions including schools were also closed as a precautionary measure in the border villages as Pakistan Rangers were now lobbing mortar shells and using medium machine guns(MMG).

Delivering the keynote speech at the BSF's 16th investiture ceremony in New Delhi, Singh said without naming Pakistan that it was an "irony" that despite India wanting peace with its neighbours, a particular country was not "mending its ways." He also remarked that "this (Pakistan's acts) can be a subject of research and these activities of the neighbour are hard to understand."

As regards response, the Minister said while the Government has directed the BSF and other forces on the border like the Army to never fire the first bullet, "no one will ask them how they chose to retaliate.

If you (the BSF) are fired upon, then you have to decide what is the best course of reaction or action. You have done this with remarkable responsibility in the past."

Meanwhile, ground reports from Jammu said the BSF smashed watch towers and other assets of Pakistan Rangers in retaliatory fire after it expanded its arc of firing from R S Pura to Kathua along the International Border.

"Since last evening the Pakistani rangers are targeting civilian areas and BSF posts with heavy mortar shelling and firing in Arnia, RS Pura , Ramgarh, Hiranagar and Kathua sectors", BSF spokesman said

At least forty (40) BSF posts were directly targeted across Jammu frontier. In retaliatory fire, the BSF too inflicted heavy damages on the other side of the border.

Meanwhile, more than two dozen 'kullas' (temporary structures) were set on fire after mortar shells landed in Jeora farms in RS Pura sector. No one was injured in the firing as local authorities had already shifted 210 families living in the area to safer places in Chakrohi agricultural farm.

Liaqat Ali of Jeora farm told The Pioneer "Pakistan Rangers have not allowed them to observe Ramzan fast this year" he said adding when "we get up for Sehri they start firing and when it is time for breaking fast and Iftaar they again start targeting our villages. We are fed up with this daily routine. We want BSF should give them a befitting reply to ensure our safety".

Due to continuous firing in Arnia town majority of local residents have already shifted to safer places. Rough estimates suggested more than 15,000 villagers have so far migrated to safer places in the area.

The entire Arnia town presented a 'ghost' look on Tuesday. The situation is no different in the RS Pura where majority of forward villages have been deserted by the local population to save their lives.

While the International Border is now bearing the brunt of firing, the Line of Control(L0C) has so far seen more than 880 ceasefire violations in the first four months of this year.

The International border too has witnessed double the number of ceasefire violations compared to previous year. As against 120 incidents of ceasefire violations along the International Border in 2017 this year the region has witnessed over 230 violations so far. The figure for the entire last year as regards violations on the LOC was 860.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 | Mohit Kandhari/PNS | Jammu/New Delhi