Five Civilians Killed as Pak Troops Shell Border Villages, Posts

Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistan Army violated ceasefire on Thursday, 24 May, by firing from automatic weapons shelling mortars along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kamal Koot area of Uri sector in Baramulla district.

Just a day earlier, five civilians were killed and nine others injured as Pakistani troops rained mortars and opened heavy fire on Indian villages and BoPs along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts on Wednesday, 23 May.

23 May marks the ninth day of continuous firing and shelling by Pakistani Rangers along the IB and LoC in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the situation prevailing along the borders in the state following the latest spate of killings in cross-border shelling by Pakistan and called for immediate cessation of hostilities to safeguard the lives and properties of the hapless people.

State BJP president Ravinder Raina said Pakistan will have to face "tough consequences" for its nefarious designs.

Speaking to ANI about the many instances of ceasefire violation, Gallantry Awardee BSF Constable Ramdhan Gurjar said: "There is no point in trusting Pakistan. They may talk to you during the day and say ceasefire, but they will go back to shelling and targeting civilians during the night."

Meanwhile, in an apparent swipe at the Centre, former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said a “muscular policy” on Kashmir is a brainless one as muscles do not have brains.

JK Govt Directs Officials to Prepare Contingency Plan

The Jammu and Kashmir government on 23 May directed the civil and police officials to prepare a comprehensive contingency plan to deal with any eventuality arising out of the unabated cross-border firing.

The ministers, who met the affected families including the relatives of those killed in the shelling, also asked the health and veterinary authorities to set up mobile units to provide prompt patient care to the border residents and the livestock, the spokesperson said.

The ministers enquired about the problems being faced by the border residents in the wake of the continuous shelling from across the border, he added.

Arnia Town, Nearly 100 Villages Deserted as Thousands Flee Pakistan Shelling

The bustling Arnia border town and nearly 100 border hamlets along the Indo-Pak border now wear an empty look, with over 76,000 villagers abandoning their homes to escape heavy shelling by Pakistani troops, PTI reported.

Arnia town, located five km from the International Border (IB), with a population of over 18,500, now looks like a ghost town with only a few people and some policemen left each in its adjoining hamlets to take care of animals and guard houses against thefts.

Kathua’s Hiranagar

There was heavy firing and shelling on civilian areas and posts along the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district before dawn. 

A senior official told PTI

In the firing and shelling, three persons were injured and one of them succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital, he said adding the injured have been admitted to hospitals.

He added that over 100 border dwellers have been evacuated to shelters and an operation is underway to evacuate others in bullet-proof vehicles.

Anantnag's Bijbehara

Six civilians were injured in a grenade attack in Anantnag's Bijbehara on Wednesday, 23 May. In RS Pura, Arnia, Bishnah of Jammu district and Ramgarh and Samba sectors, firing and shelling have been ongoing since Tuesday, 22 May.

RS Pura & Arnia

Stating that most of the people from the villages in RS Pura, Arnia, Bishnah, Ramgarh and Samba have been safely evacuated, the police told PTI:

“In heavy shelling by Pakistan, a civilian was killed in RS Pura sector and another injured in Arnia sector. 

Arnia town, which has been badly hit in Pakistani shelling, now lies deserted as most of the people have left their houses and taken shelter either in government camps or at the homes of their relatives.

Educational institutions in the affected areas remained closed.

Uri’s Kamal Koot

The Pakistani forces pulled another ceasefire violation in the Kamal Koot area of Uri sector in Baramulla District. ANI reported that the Pakistani Army started firing using automatic weapons and shelling mortars along the LoC.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)