Pak targets BOPs, civilian hamlets; BSF jawan killed

JAMMU: A BSF jawan was today killed while six civilians were injured when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire, shelling over 15 Bops and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and firing from automatic weapons in R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border in Jammu district.

"The jawan, a head constable, received splinter injuries in the ceasefire violation and succumbed to his injuries," a senior BSF official said.

The jawan identified as Jitendra Kumar was a native of Motihari district in Bihar.



Pakistani troops pounded over 20 civilian hamlets along IB in Arnia and R S Pura in Jammu district overnight besides targeting over 15 Bops, drawing retaliation form BSF troops.

"There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning", a police officer said.

In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in R S Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

Pakistani posts started firing heavy mortars towards the Indian side at 2035 hours, a BSF officer said.

"Heavy mortar shells were fired towards Arnia last night", Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said.

Yesterday, an officer of the Border Security Force was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during in RS Pura sector along the International Border in Jammu.

As many as 16 people mostly women have been injured in the cross border firing in the RS Pura sector in the past two days.

Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF A K Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector.He received splinter injures in his hand yesterday.

Eight civilians were injured in shelling in R S Pura and Arnia on October 25.