8 month old baby killed, 6 injured in Pak firing in Arnia sector

22/05/2018

JAMMU, May 21: Six people were injured on Monday in indiscriminate shelling by Pakistan Rangers across the International Border (IB) in Jammu district, police said. Meanwhile, an eight-month-old baby, who was hit by a stray bullet fired from across the border on Sunday, succumbed to his injuries, police said.
In Monday's firing, a special police officer (SPO) and five other civilians including a woman were injured in the shelling on Border Security Force (BSF) positions and civilian facilities in Arnia sector. The firing came a day after the Rangers contacted BSF over phone and agreed to maintain peace in the area.
"A shell fired from across the IB exploded in the compound of Arnia police station injuring a woman and a SPO. "Four civilians were also injured in Pakistan shelling in Arnia area," a police officer said.
Police is evacuating civilians from areas close to the the border and has also advised people not to move out of their homes till shelling stops. Today's firing, in violation of a ceasefire agreement, came two days after four civilians and a BSF jawan were killed in firing by Pakistani troops in Jammu district.
Loud explosions were witnessed in the border villages after Pakistani forces resorted to heavy shelling.
Villages like Devigarh, Trewa and PindiCharkan bore the brunt of Pakistani mortar shelling in the morning. Villagers were seen running towards safer areas. They also visited a private building owned by BasantSaini where border villagers had taken shelter after Pakistan's shelling.
While speaking, the villagers expressed their anger and said that the administration failed to send bulletproof vehicles and evacuate them on time. "We left on our own. We had to run away to save our lives. Nobody came to evacuate us. Now, we have taken refuge inside this building", said one of the villager. "The government must find a permanent solution. The bunkers built for us are far from our houses. They should be built near our houses", said another villager.
"For how long, will we tolerate this? Nobody is concerned about us. Let there be a war and this matter be settled once for all. The government must take a call and go to war with Pakistan. The entire nation must know what we are going through", said BasantSaini, owner of the building where villagers had taken shelter after fleeing their homes.
As the day progressed, the Pakistani Rangers increased their shelling limit to 5 km from the international border. As a result, Arnia town - 4 kms from international border- too came under heavy mortar shelling. The Pakistani Rangers fired 82 mm mortar shells in Arnia town. "Pakistani Rangers resorted to heavy shelling in Arnia. 60-70 mortar shells were fired in the town alone which is very rare. Arnia town was the worst affected area today", said SP R.C Kotwal.
The panic stricken residents closed their shops and went indoors. The civil administration and police also swung into action to take people to safety. However, Pakistan fired mortar shells at the Arnia police station a cop injured and damaging the police station building and vehicles. "We are taking all precautions and the injured cop has been shifted to the Government Medical college, Jammu for treatment", said SP RC Kotwal.
The police also rescued many residents in Arnia town and took them to safer areas in bulletproof vehicles.
Meanwhile, J&K DGP SP Vaid lashed out at Pakistan and said that the neighbouring country can't be trusted. "It's Pakistan character to say something and do something else. If you have a neighbour like Pakistan, you can't do anything", said DGP SP Vaid while referring to Pakistan's breach of trust after asking for peace from the BSF. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who met a few victims of Saturday's attack, described the killings as "highly unfortunate".
She said the attacks came when Ramzan had just begun and the people of the state had heaved a sigh of relief after the central government announced an unilateral halt to security-related operations in the state during the holy month.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that by killing people during the holy month of Ramzan, Pakistan "is guilty of sacrilege". According to the BSF, "Pakistani troops started mortar shelling in civilian areas in Arnia sector around 0700 hours."
Border Out Posts (BoPs) of Vikram, Chinaz and Jabowal were hit by Pakistani shelling.
BSF troops guarding the border retaliated and the heavy exchange of fire between the two sides stopped around 1400 hours, a BSF officer officer said. Pakistan Rangers rained mortar shells on Arnia town. A mortar shell landed at a police station, damaging its wall and some parked vehicles. It also killed a special police officer (SPO).
The heavy firing triggered panic among locals. Many of them fled from home and took shelter in camps set up by the government.
According to the officials, the intense Pakistani shelling started a day after it "pleaded" with the BSF to stop firing, after being pounded with heavy artillery that left a Pakistani trooper dead. In the firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Pallanwala sector in Jammu district, eight-month-old Nitin Kumar was killed in Sherpalai hamlet, a police officer said.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Vivek Gupta said six people including the SPO and 62-year-old woman Darshana Devi were injured in Pakistani shelling and have been hospitalised.
All schools within five kilometres of the border have been closed as a precautionary measure, he said.
The state has witnessed a spurt in Pakistani shelling and firing along the IB and the LoC this year. Over 700 such incidents have been reported this year, which have left 38 people, including 18 security personnel, dead and scores injured.
The chief minister today visited the house of TarseemLal and his wife ManjeetKour, who were killed in Pakistani shelling in Manguchak belt of R S Pura sector on Saturday. She assured all support to the victims of the border firing and consoled the families.
Interacting with the people there, the chief minister described the killings as "highly unfortunate".
She said the people of the state, who had gone through very tough times in the past, wanted to live in an environment free from violence and killings.
She said the Centre's move of halting security operations had generated a hope among the people who expected positive reciprocation to it from all stake holders.

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