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Calm prevailed along the International Border and the Line of Control in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir overnight after three days of intense shelling by Pakistan which left 10 persons, including six civilians dead, and over 50 others injured, PTI reported.
Two days of heavy firing across the border with Pakistan had affected thousands of border residents along the Jammu region.
Two civilians were killed and four others injured after Pakistan Rangers heavily shelled civilian areas and Border out Posts (BoPs) along the international border (IB) in Jammu and Samba districts for the second consecutive day on Friday, 19 January. BSF head constable Jagpal Singh succumbed to injuries after he was caught in mortar shelling in Samba sector.
Five civilians were injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Hiranagar sector in Kathua, reported ANI. A ceasefire violation by Pakistan was also reported in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri.
Minister of State Hansraj Ahir had said that ceasefire violation was a part of Pakistan’s “wicked nature”.
"Pakistan Rangers resorted to heavy firing and shelling along the IB in several areas in RS Pura, Arnia and Ramgarh sectors since 6:40 am", a BSF officer said.
The BSF official had said that Pakistan has targeted BoPs and villages within over 35 km of the IB.
A police officer said Pakistani troops had targeted over 40 civilian villages along the IB till now.
One woman died in Sai Khurda, while a man died in Korotona in the RS Pura-Arnia belt. A civilian was injured in RS Pura, including one in Sai Khurd village, while two others were injured in Ramgarh.
On Thursday, a 17-year-old girl and a BSF jawan were killed and six people were injured when Pakistan Rangers violated ceasefire and heavily shelled BoPs and villages along the IB in three sectors of Jammu and Samba districts.
BSF Director General KK Sharma visited Jammu to pay homage to Suresh, who lost his life on 18 January, and directed his field commanders to retaliate with full force and teach Pakistan Rangers a lesson.
In another incident, terrorists hurled a grenade towards Pulwama police station that exploded inside Tehsil office, on Friday, 19 January. Two civilians and four policemen were injured in the attack, reported ANI.
A CRPF official stated that search operations had been launched to nab the terrorists.
According to sources, Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah had been summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs, reported ANI.
The MEA in a statement also added that 100 such violations had been carried out by Pakistan forces on Line of Control and the International Border so far during 2018.
The MEA said that Pakistan was again called upon to adhere to the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, for maintaining “peace and tranquility” along the LoC.
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