10-year-old killed, 2-year-old battles splinter injuries
4 killed, 23 injured as Pak shells villages, border outposts
24/05/2018
JAMMU, May 23: A 10-year-old boy was among five civilians killed today as Pakistan violated ceasefire yet again, firing long-range mortars that hit residential areas near the international border in Jammu region. This comes a day after an eight-month-old was killed in another border village in Akhnoor.
As shelling intensified on Galad village that's right next to the border, Krishna ran to his mother who was in the kitchen. That's when a shell landed in their home, killing him instantly. His mother and brother are in critical condition.
Like many children in the area, Krishna was at home as schools close to the border have been shut for nearly a week since an escalation in firing from across the border.
"The situation is very bad at the border. There has been heavy firing since morning. Around 8.30 am, seven to eight mortars landed in the village," said Subhash Chand, a resident of the village located 70 kilometres from Jammu.
Barely a few homes away, another family is in mourning. 48-year-old Shammo Devi, a mother of five who was making breakfast, died as a shell pierced through the roof and exploded.
Other that two deaths in Samba, two civilians were killed in RS Pura and one in Hiranagar sector due to Pakistani firing.
Heavy firing has been reported in Hirananagr, Samba, Kathua, Arnia and RS Pura areas of Jammu division.
The 23 injured include three jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF).
BSF officials said nearly 40 border outposts are engaged since Tuesday night to thwart the firing and shelling by Pakistan Rangers. Officials have also pressed in ambulances and bullet proof to help the bordering villages.
As a precautionary move, all schools within 5-km radius from the IB have been ordered to remain closed.
This is for the eighth day in stretch that Pakistan has resorted to ceasefire violation, prompting a "strong and effective retaliation" by the BSF.
Hundreds of panic-stricken villagers fled their houses and took shelter either at the their relatives' houses or relief camps set up by the government.
While Kaushalya Devi (70), Madan Lal Bhagat (48), Des Raj (52) and Thudu Ram (65) were injured in the Arnia and RS Pura sectors of Jammu district, Aman Singh (22) of Bobiyan village was injured in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, officials said.
They added that the firing from across the border was intense as 80 mm and 120 mm mortar shells hit dozens of villages, including Jora Farm--a hamlet of milkmen--in the morning.
Thirteen-year-old Shivpaul was playing with his younger brother Krishan Lal Sharma when a Pakistani mortar shell exploded inside their house in Samba sector.
Recuperating at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital here Shivpaul asks only one question - about the well being of his brother. Ten-year-old Krishan Lal Sharma, however, was not as fortunate as his elder sibling. He died on the spot.
Their mother Champa was being treated at a local hospital.
In the GMC hospital emergency ward, close to where Shivpaul was recovering, 21-year-old Pooja, wife of an Army jawan, and her two-year-old son too were battling splinter injuries.
They were preparing to flee their home for safety when a shell tore through the roof and exploded in their bed room in the early hours, she said. Her daughter too was injured in the blast, Pooja added.
In another special ward, 50-year-old Santosh Kumari, resident of Londi village of Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, was mourning the loss of her husband.
It was around 5.30 am when a shell landed at our house and exploded with a big bang, critically injuring Devi, her husband Rampaul Sharma and two others besides killing several bovines. We immediately shifted them to a local hospital and after first aid they were brought here. However, Rampaul was declared brought dead, Ashok Kumar Sharma, younger brother of the deceased said.
Surinder Singh (45), a resident of Naibasti area of Suchetgarh, said he was moving his cattle out of the firing zone when a shell exploded killing a friend and injuring him.
Singh received multiple splinter injuries in the upper parts of the body and was being attended by his brother, a soldier, and uncle.
Subhash Chander, who was attending Surinder Singh, said the frequent shelling had made their lives miserable.
We have witnessed both sides observing the ceasefire in November 2003 and lived a peaceful life for many years before the situation turned ugly especially after 2014, he said.
The government also backtracked from the promised piece of land at safer places for the border residents. They are responding to Pakistani shelling more fiercely but how is this an answer to our problems. Either they should go for ceasefire or launch an all out attack, Chander said.
Amid the surcharged atmosphere inside the emergency ward, 22-year-old Sunny of Satowali village, who had just been brought by friends, wept inconsolably.
Medical Superintendent Dara Singh said over 50 shelling victims had arrived in the hospital over the past one week.
Among the injured, two persons including a woman were in intensive care unit for multiple splinter injuries in vital organs, he said.
However, India today summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner here and lodged a strong protest over the killing of a seven-month-old infant in unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces in Bhimber sector.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was conveyed to Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah that the "deliberate targeting" of innocent civilians by Pakistani forces using small arms and high caliber weapons is "highly deplorable".
"The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Syed Haider Shah was summoned today and strong protest was lodged at the loss of life of a seven-month-old infant in unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces on May 21," the MEA said.
It said Pakistan authorities were asked to investigate into such heinous acts of killing innocent civilians and instruct its forces to desist from such acts immediately.
"Targeting of innocent civilians including young children is against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct," the MEA said.
It said the Pakistani side was also asked to end the support being given to cross border infiltration of terrorists, including through covering fire.
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