2 killed in heavy Pak shelling on 22 border posts, 13 hamlets

Jammu: In a major escalation, Pakistani troops today indulged in heavy “unprovoked” shelling and firing on 22 border outposts and 13 villages, killing two civilians and injuring six others including a BSF jawan along the International Border in Jammu sector.
Over 3000 people living in border hamlets have been evacuated to safe areas under a contingency plan, enforced today after the latest ceasefire violation by Pakistan soon after midnight targeting the entire border belt of Arnia and R S Pura as well as Hamirpur sub-sector in Poonch.
The BSF troops took positions and responded with equal calibre weapons to Pakistani firing which resulted in heavy exchange of fire till 0700 hours on Saturday, a senior BSF officer told PTI.
“Pak Rangers resorted to heavy shelling of 82-mm mortars and firing of automatic weaponry on 22 BoPs and civilian areas along IB in Arnia and R S Pura sub-sectors of Jammu district from 0030 hours today,” the officer said. (PTI)