Woman killed as Pakistani Rangers violate ceasefire

JAMMU: In fresh ceasefire violation ahead of the Prime Minister's visit here, Pakistani Rangers today resorted to mortar shelling in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district leaving a woman dead and three others injured, including a BSF jawan.

The firing also triggering an exchange of fire with BSF troops which was still going on when last reports came in.

"The Pakistani Rangers opened 'sniper fire' on a BSF constable guarding a border outpost along the International Border in Kanachak sector of Akhnoor tehsil in Jammu district around 0845 hours," a senior BSF officer said.

As BSF troops tried to evacuate the injured jawan in a vehicle, they were heavily fired upon by Pakistani Rangers, he said.

The BSF troops took positions and retaliated, resulting in exchange of fire.The injured jawan Anjali Kumar has been hospitalized.

Pakistani Rangers also targeted civilian border areas by resorting to small arms firing and shelling of mortar bombs in Bhalwal Bharth, Malabela, Siderwan areas and BoPs at 0910 hours, a police officer said.

Three mortar shells landed deep inside Kanachak sector along the IB, they said.

A 42-year-old woman identified as Poli Devi died in the mortar shelling while 24-year-old Ramesh Kumar and 38-year-old Udha Devi suffered injuries, he said.

The firing and shelling was resorted to by 21 Chenab Rangers (Pakistan) from their Azam, Peer Garana, Melabela- Stop on Siderwan and Malabela BoPs of BSF on this side.

The firing comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu on July 17 to attend the centenary celebrations of former state Finance Minister Girdhari Lal Dogra.