New Delhi:
In yet another dreadful incident, a Constable of Border Security Force and four civilians were killed after Pakistan Rangers heavily shelled villages and Border out Posts (BoPs) on Thursday night.
"Two civilians have lost their lives in Arnia sector because of ceasefire violation by Pakistan. Total of 4 civilians & one BSF constable have lost their lives today in ceasefire violation in Jammu and Kashmir," the news agency ANI reported.
The BSF jawan, later identified as Sita Ram Upadhyay, was hit by the enemy at Jabowal and was brought dead to GMC Jammu at around 3:20 am.
Upadhyay, 27, who was a native of Paaliganj in Jharkhand’s Giridh district, is survived by a three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter.
The heavy shelling and firing by Pakistani troops have also injured six persons including a BSF officer along the IB in Jammu frontier, a senior official said.
#FLASH: Two civilians have lost their lives in Arnia sector because of ceasefire violation by Pakistan. Total of 4 civilians & one BSF constable have lost their lives today in ceasefire violation in #JammuAndKashmir. pic.twitter.com/g38cO4HKlM
— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2018
SDPO, R S Pura, Sahil Parashar said police is using bullet-proof vehicles to evacuate the injured to the hospital and is reaching out to the people in shelling-hit zones.
Read | Giving peace another chance in Kashmir
"Firing in Heeranagar area was on during the intervening night of May 16 and 17 in which one BSF trooper was injured. Yesterday, during the daytime, it stopped but Pakistan resumed firing last night in Arnia sector which claimed the life of a jawan early today," a senior official of the border guarding was quoted.
"The firing in R S Pura sector is intermittent," he added.
In view of the shelling, the administration has activated the shelter set up. This is the third day of shelling and firing by Pakistan troops along the IB in Jammu and was started ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on Saturday, May 19.
A BSF jawan was among two persons injured when Pakistan Rangers opened fire and lobbed mortars at over 15 border outposts (BOPs) and some civilian areas along the International Border in Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu: Wreath laying ceremony of BSF Constable Sitaram Upadhyay, who lost his life in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in RS Pura Sector earlier today. pic.twitter.com/FXDGvWkhRY
— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2018
Read | Ramzan ceasefire: Centre halts Army operations in Kashmir during the holy month
On May 15, a 28-year-old BSF jawan was killed as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by opening fire on forwarding posts to help infiltrators cross the International Border in Samba sector. Troops have also foiled four infiltration bids along the IB since May 12.
(With inputs from agencies)
