Jammu: In yet another violation of the bilateral ceasefire, two Indian Army jawans were killed and two other security personnel were injured in a fresh case of cross-border firing by Pakistan Rangers in Tanghdar sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.
"Two soldiers were killed in a blaze triggered by rocket propelled grenades fired by Pakistan at Indian Army bunkers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir Saturday," police said.
"The Pakistan Army fired RPGs towards a post of the Indian Army in Tangdhar sector. A blaze was triggered in the tall dry grass around two bunkers of the Indian Army due to these RPGs that quickly engulfed the bunkers," the official added, IANS reported.
According to news reports, the injured were flown to a Srinagar hospital. This is the ninth such incident of ceasefire violation in the last ten days.
Due to the heavy shelling by Pakistani troops since the past twelve hours, scores of villagers were forced to migrate from the affected border villages. Since yesterday night, two Army jawans and a woman were killed while 10 people were injured as Pakistani troops targeted villages and security posts at various places in J&K.
Reports from the border villages of Manyari, Paansar, Bobia, Londi, Sadechak, Chailari, Chachwal, Mangu Chak, Regaal, Mawa, Sadho and Chak Fakira said dozens of families started migrating to safer places because of the shelling.
Earlier in the day, a woman was killed and eight other people were injured in Pakistani shelling along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba and Kathua districts, police said.
The woman identified as 45-year-old Toshi Devi, wife of Somnath and a resident of Mangu Chak village in Samba district, was injured in the shelling and succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.
“The eight injured were being treated in the same hospital in Jammu,” a senior police official was quoted as saying by IANS.
Police also said Pakistan Rangers had fired at Border Security Force (BSF) outposts around 9.30 pm on Friday. Shortly after the Pak shelling, the Border Security Force (BSF) retaliated.
“The firing exchange that stopped at 3.30 am on Saturday resumed in Hiranagar, Ramgarh and Samba sectors of the international border,” police said today.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists carried out a protest march in Jammu against the Pakistani shelling.
“Pakistan is troubled because President Obama is visiting India on 26th January,” Major Gen (Rtd) SR Sinho said.
He further said, “Pak wants to create such an environment at the border that Prez Obama cancels his visit to India,” ANI reported.
According to security agencies, Pakistan-based terrorist groups are continuously trying to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir by taking advantage of cross-border firing as they aim to carry out "spectacular attacks" ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India.
Quoting intelligence reports, senior Home Ministry officials had said yesterday that the terrorists were waiting for opportunity in eight locations along the International Border and Line of Control to sneak into India to indulge in terrorist acts.
"As per our information, the militants have the blessings of the highest authorities of Pakistan Army," an official was quoted as saying by PTI.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also accused Pakistan of trying to push terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir and giving cover to such attempts by continuous firing along the border.
The latest round of firing by Pakistan which started on New Year eve has left two persons dead, including a BSF jawan, and nine injured while five Pakistani Rangers have been killed in retaliatory firing by India. It comes barely two months after the last major escalation that left 13 people dead and displaced 32,000 border residents.
(With Agency inputs)
