Jammu: A BSF officer was injured as Pakistani Rangers pounded civilian areas and Indian paramilitary posts in two sectors of the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, prompting authorities to order closure of schools and advise people to shift to safer places.
"Assistant Sub-Inspector of BSF AK Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injuries in his hand," a BSF spokesman said. He said the BSF gave a "befitting reply" to the Pakistani fire.
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said Pakistani troops last night also targeted civilian areas including Sai Kalan, Bure Jaal, Treva and Arnia. "Shelling started in Sai Kalan also. Arnia also came under shelling from 0130 hours. People were inside their houses, so no human casualty," he said.
Tonight, Pakistani troops again resorted to firing and shelling in Arnia sector. "At 2035 hours, Pakistani troops from two posts started firing flat trajectory weapons in the areas of RS Pura," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Dharmendra Pareek said.
He said Pakistani side was targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with heavy mortar and small arms fire. The BSF was effectively retaliating and the firefight was going on, Pareek said.
Pakistan also resorted to heavy mortar shelling in the Arnia town of the district. "Heavy mortar shelling has started at Arnia also," Simrandeep Singh said. The DC said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border and people were moving to safer locations.
"In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives houses at safer locations," he said.