Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 23: Nearly 20,000 people from border areas of Ramgarh, Arnia and RS Pura sectors have deserted their homes and taken shelter in safer areas in view of intense mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistani Rangers on civilian areas last night in which seven persons including two BSF jawans were injured while a number of houses and other structures were damaged.
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Large number of civilians had to be evacuated from Nanga and Rangoor Camp in Ramgarh sector of Samba district last night in bullet-proof bunkers and police buses when they were trapped in shelling by the Pakistani Rangers and there was “serious threat” to their lives as their villages were being pounded directly by the Rangers with 82mm mortars, SSP Samba Anil Magotra said, adding that the villages located within shelling and firing range in Ramgarh sector of Samba district have been vacated by the people.
Two BSF jawans were injured in mortar shelling and firing at forward village of Majra in Ramgarh sector, where they were manning their posts. They have been identified as Rajesh Kumar and Sipual Verma, both constables.
Security forces evacuated injured BSF jawans amidst heavy shelling and firing and shifted them to the hospital, where they were responding to treatment.
Three civilians were injured when mortar shells exploded inside houses of the villagers at Satowali in RS Pura sector last midnight. Injured were identified as Pushpinder Singh son of Jaswant Singh, Subash Kumar son of Rolu Ram and Vandana Devi son of Prashant Lal. They too were shifted from the village by local people and police and taken to the Government Medical College, Jammu.
Two civilians sustained minor injuries in Arnia sector.
A senior BSF official said 20 Border Out Posts (BOPs) were affected by Pakistan’s shelling and firing along International Border last night. He added that the BSF responded very effectively and gave befitting response to the Rangers. The shelling stopped at around 4 am at all three Sectors.
“At least 32 villages in Ramgarh, Arnia and RS Pura sectors have been badly affected by shelling forcing large number of people to desert their houses and taken shelter in safer areas-either in the houses of their relatives or in the premises of religious and social organizations and relief camps set up by the administration,” sources said, adding that the migrants were preferring taking shelter in the premises of social and religious organizations in view of better facilities as well as availability of food.
However, some people have also reported to the relief camps set up by the administration at Hiranagar sector in Kathua district, Ramgarh in Samba district, Arnia and RS Pura in Jammu district. A number of border dwellers have left for the houses of their relatives and friends. People in some border villages like Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, which were unaffected by mortar shelling or firing, have also shifted to safer areas anticipating that Pakistan could target any village.
Sources said large number of civilians in all the three sectors of Jammu and Samba districts, affected by shelling and firing, had miraculous escape last night as mortars fell inside or very close to their houses. A number of shells fell in the fields, they added.
The houses, cattle sheds and other structures continued to suffer extensive damage in mortar shelling. However, extent of damage couldn’t be ascertained immediately as authorities said their focus was safety of the civilians, for which all arrangements were being made.
Educational institutions in all three sectors, falling within shelling and firing range, remained shut on the instructions of local administration.
A BSF jawan and a civilian have been martyred while nearly 20 civilians have been injured in Pakistan shelling during past more than a week while number of casualties was very high on Pakistan side, where nearly 50,000 people have fled their houses. Five Rangers were among 18 Pakistanis, who have so far been killed in Pakistan shelling.
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