Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

The Gun Battles Have Forced Hundreds Of Panic­stricken Villagers In Jammu, Kathua And Samba Districts To Flee Their Homes

JAMMU: Twenty people, including three Border Security Force (BSF) jawans, have been injured over the last two days as Pakistan continued to target Indian posts and villages along the 198km-long International Border, officials said on Tuesday.

NITIN KANOTRA/HTA woman prepares food as she takes shelter with her family in a government school during firing from the Pakistan side of the border in Jora village of Jammu on Tuesday.

The sporadic but intense gun battles have forced hundreds of panic-stricken villagers in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts to flee homes and take shelter in the houses of relatives or in relief camps set up by the government. “At least 90 villages in Jammu district have been affected by shelling and firing,” additional deputy commissioner of Jammu Arun Manhas said.

Seven relief camps had been set up in Jammu that see a rush after dusk, Manhas said, adding 500 people were in RS Pura and Arnia camps on Monday evening. “Three BSF jawans have suffered superficial injuries at different locations along the border on Monday and Tuesday. They were hit by shards of stones and not shrapnel,” a BSF officer said on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a spurt in Pakistani shelling along the border as well as the LOC this year. More than 700 such incidents have been reported this year, leaving 39 people, including 18 security personnel, dead and many more injured. The latest round of firing coincides with the government calling off operations in the Kashmir Valley during Ramzan.

The Pakistan Rangers, who pleaded for a ceasefire over the weekend, apparently to buy time, were using automatic weapons and mortars. “We are retaliating strongly to their unprovoked firing in which at least two Rangers were eliminated opposite Akhnoor sector while three were injured,” the BSF official said, adding three seriously injured Rangers were moved to a hospital in Lahore.

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria letters@hindustantimes.com

Courtesy: Hindustan Times: 23 May 2018