Agencies
Srinagar/Jammu, Jan 3: Two army jawans and a woman died while 11 people were injured as Pakistani troops targeted villages and security posts at various places in Jammu and Kashmir since Friday night which triggered migration of hundreds of people from the border areas.
While the firing and shelling continued, Home Minister Rajnath Singh regretted that Pakistan is repeatedly targeting border areas of India despite being offered a hand of friendship.
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC near Kanhaiyah Post Friday night by firing rocket propelled grenades into Tanghdar area, police officials said while citing the FIR lodged by the army.
A BSF jawan, who was posted on in a nearby post, was also injured in the incident, the officials said.
Along the International Border, Pakistani troops targeted villages and 13 border outposts with heavy mortar shelling in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to death of a woman and injuries to eight others.
Shelling of villages triggered panic and migration from border villages and over 1400 people have been evacuated from hamlets in Samba and Kathua district, officials said.
‘‘Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and heavy firing and mortar shelling on posts and civilian areas along IB in Samba and Kathua districts since 9.30pm last night,’’ Inspector General of BSF Rakesh Sharma told the media. ‘‘BSF troops gave a befitting reply resulting in exchanges which stopped at 3am,’’ Sharma said.
Pakistan again started mortar shelling and firing targeting civilian areas since 7am, he said.
A woman identified as Tori Devi of Mangu Chack has been killed in the shelling and four civilians were injured in the firing and shelling, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Samba, Anil Magotra told PTI.
Four persons, including two women, were injured in Nauchak village in Kathua, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Shahid Iqbal said.
BSF has also issued an advisory to the border people for evacution. Scores of houses have suffered damage and a few animals have also perished in the firing, Magotra said.
The SSP said buses have been kept ready for evacuation and ‘‘we are waiting for the firing and shelling to stop so that people are shifted to safety.’’
People have taken shelter in bunkers and are not venturing out, he said.
The latest round of firing by Pakistan which started New Year eve has left two persons dead, including a BSF jawan, and nine injured while five Pakistani Rangers have been killed in retaliatory firing by India.
Commenting on this, Rajnath Singh said in Delhi, ‘‘Pakistan should stop ceasefire violations.’’
