Thousands flee border villages as firing continues between India, Pak in J&K

On Monday Pakistan said four of its soldiers were killed during Indian firing along the heavily militarized Line of Control, the disputed section of the border in southern Kashmir.

The official also added that Pakistan was targeting the villages to kill civilians and cause destruction.

According to a BSF official, Pakistan Rangers targeted villages along the IB starting from Akhnoor to RS Pura, reported PTI.

Initially, Pakistani troops started with the firing at Narianpur, SM Pura, Fathwal, Chambliyal and later it turned into more Indian posts, including Kandral, Majra, Mallu Chak, SP-1, SP-2, and Tanver.

Over a dozen cattle too perished in heavy shelling of civilian facilities by Pakistan Rangers.

Mohammad Faisal, Director General, dealing with South Asia & SAARC affairs in the in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned JP Singh for “unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Working Boundary on 19th January in Sialkot Sector”.

While a BSF jawan and a teenaged girl were killed on Thursday, four people-two civilians and one BSF jawan and an Army jawan-were killed and over 40 others, including two BSF personnel, injured in the Pakistani firing yesterday. Since Wednesday, six people including two BSF jawans, have been killed and over three dozen people have been injured the ceasefire violation along the worldwide border. “Indian positions effectively and strongly retaliated the Pakistani fire”, a police source said.

In Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee asked the Centre government to take effective measures to end the cross-border firing.

Mocking ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with its 56-inch adage, the opposition led by National Conference and Congress Saturday staged a walkout from the Assembly over the failure of the government to protect the lives of the border residents in the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Condemning the firing by Pakistan in civilian areas, in J&K, the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Nirmal Singh today extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their dear ones in Pakistan firing.

He said in the exchange of fire, Lance Naik Sam Abraham, 34, was grievously injured and succumbed to injuries later.