Pak troops kill 2 in border shelling; India gives 'massive' reply

Two women of a family were killed and 15 others injured on Wednesday in heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the death toll to eight in the continued ceasefire violations by Pakistan for over a week.

Pakistani Rangers targeted 50 border out posts and 35 hamlets overnight along the 192-km boundary. The escalation has triggered an exodus, with 16,000 people moving to safer areas from border villages.

Indian forces have been asked to retaliate and reject talks until all firing from Pakistan stops, according to top government sources.

Pakistani Rangers targeted Chillary village along the IB in Samba district around 07.30 hours on Wednesday. In the mortar shelling, Shukuntla Devi and her daughter-in-law Poli Devi were killed while their husbands along with two children of Poli were injured, Senior Superintendent of Police Samba, Anil Mangotra told PTI.

All the inhabitants of village with a population 1,700 have fled from border hamlet to safety.

Among the 15 injured on Wednesday, three were Border Security Force jawans. All of them have been shifted to Government Medical College hospital, the SSP said.

Jorda Farm border hamlet was hit by shelling at 09:00 hours, police officials said. Six persons were injured when they were returning after a night stay in shelter camp in R S Pura. They were shifted to GMC hospital for treatment, they said.

Giving further details, the BSF spokesman said almost all the BSF posts in Samba, Hiranagar belt of Kathua district were targeted by Pakistan Rangers. The firing in some areas of Arnia was still going on Wednesday morning.

"BSF troops at all the places gave a strong and befitting reply to fire from Pak," he said.

As many as 50 BSF BoPs were affected by the fire from the Pakistan side, he said, adding areas along the border in Arnia, R S Pura, Kanachak and Pargwal sub-sectors in Jammu and Samba districts were targeted.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday directed the administration to take all requisite measures for ensuring safety of life of the people in areas hit by shelling from across the border.

"Food, temporary shelter, transportation, medical facilities and supply of drinking water should be made available at the camps established for border people who have migrated for heavy shelling from their areas," Omar directed the divisional administration of Jammu region. He conducted a meeting via video conferencing with the divisional commissioner, inspector general and deputy commissioner of Jammu.

The CM received a brief about the arrangements made to safeguard the lives of border people under the shelling from across the border. Omar was informed that 24 temporary camps have been established in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts at safer places for the families hit by the shelling and over 7,000 people are residing in these camps.

It was stated that free food, medicine, blankets and other requirements are being provided to the inmates of these camps.

The CM directed identification of more places of shelter so they are utilised in the hour of need. Private banquet halls and other accommodation should be identified for providing shelter to the affected, he said.

Eight people have been killed and 71 others including BSF jawans injured in Pakistani shelling and firing along LoC and IB in Jammu and Poonch districts in over two dozen ceasefire violations since October 1 this year.

On Monday, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by resorting to heavy firing and shelling in Arnia belt along IB in Jammu in which 5 people were killed and 34 injured.

On October 3, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Gulamarg sector of Kashmir Valley and in Poonch and Jammu sectors in which a girl was killed and six persons were injured.

A Junion Commissioned Officer Subash Singh was among three army men injured in Sabjian belt of Poonch sector.