Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 22: After a brief lull of three days, Pakistan today again resorted to firing from across the International Border (IB) in Ramgarh and Arnia sectors for a brief period but there were no casualties or damage on the Indian side. The BSF retaliated.
Official sources said the Rangers opened small arms firing at forward village of Narayanpur in Ramgarh sector and Stop-2 in Arnia sector at about 10.30 am today. The BSF retaliated silencing the Pakistani guns.
Exchange of firing last 15 to 20 minutes in which there were no casualties or damage on the Indian side.
In view of latest ceasefire violations and apprehensions that Pakistani Rangers could resort to any mischief on the occasion of Diwali festival tomorrow, the people continued to stay in the relief camps.
“About 33,000 border migrants from Hiranagar to Akhnoor sectors will be celebrating Diwali festival away from their homes. The people from forward villages had left their homes after Pakistan Rangers pounded them with mortar shelling and firing, which has so far claimed the lives of 10 civilians and renders several others injured,” sources said.
While some of the people will be celebrating Diwali in the relief camps, few others have left for the houses of their relatives in safer zones.
The latest ceasefire violation from the Rangers comes 72 hours after the last instance of firing from across the border by the neighbouring country’s troops on the night of October 19 in Pargwal sector of Akhnoor.
Pakistani troops had also violated the ceasefire on October 17 and 18 by resorting to firing on BoPs in Makwal and Allah Mai De Kothay (AMK) areas of Jammu.
Before that, the ceasefire was violated twice on October 17 along the Line of Control (LoC) in Hamirpur sector of Poonch district. Ceasefire violations also took place on October 16 night.
The IB and LoC in Jammu region have witnessed heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops since October 1 which has left 10 persons dead and over 95 injured, including 13 security men.
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