Ceasefire violations: Now 40 BSF posts, 24 J&K villages come under Pak firing

Jammu: Extending ceasefire violations to Samba district, Pakistan troops heavily shelled and fired upon 40 Border Out Posts (BoPs) and 24 villages along the International Border in Jammu and Samba districts, leaving three persons injured. BSF troops gave a befitting reply by responding strongly with equal caliber weapons to Pakistan’s firing which resulted in heavy exchange of fire, which continued till 7 am, a BSF officer said. “Pak Rangers resorted to heavy firing of small and automatic weapons and shelling of mortars bombs on 35 to 40 BoPs and civilian areas along IB in Arnia and R S Pura sub-sectors of Jammu district from 2130 hours last night” the officer said. [caption id=“attachment_1679647” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A BSF personnel in Jammu. AFP.[/caption] This is the first time that Pakistani Rangers have extended the ceasefire violation to Samba district. Pakistan targeted BoPs and Border hamlets along IB in Arnia, R Pura, Kanachak, Akhnoor sub-sectors of Jammu district and Ramgarh sector of Samba district. As per the official reports, Pak also targeted 24 Border villages throughout the night till this morning. “Although there was no human loss, three civilians have been injured in Pak shelling.They included two people in Flora village and and one in Khothar besides injuries to cattle in Jora Farm area in R S Pura belt”, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), R S Pura, Devender Singh said. Pakistani rangers rained 52mm and 82-mm mortar shells apart from using LMGs, MMGs and automatic weapons on at least 40 BoPs and 24 border hamlets triggering panic and fear among the people living along the border in Jammu and Samba districts. There have been 21 ceasefire violations in less then a fortnight and 23 in the month of August. Since July 16, there have been 33 ceasefire  violations. Meanwhile, BJP National President Amit Shah and MoS PMO Jitendra Singh are visiting people who have migrated from border hamlets and are put up in safe shelters in R S Pura today. PTI