This Article is From Oct 06, 2014

Five Killed, 25 Injured As Pakistani Troops Target Civilians Near Border

Five Killed, 25 Injured As Pakistani Troops Target Civilians Near Border

Those injured in the firing have been shifted to the government medical college in Jammu.

Arnia: Five people have been killed and 25 injured in firing and shelling from Pakistan at the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir after midnight on Sunday, in the worst attack on civilian areas in recent years.

Two women and a 13-year-old girl were among those killed when Pakistan Rangers started firing at posts of the Border Security Force and villages in the Arnia sector of Jammu at around 1.30 am.

Two members of one family were killed in the attack the night before Eid celebrations on Monday. Several were wounded in heavy mortar shelling and homes were damaged. Mortar shells reportedly even hit a bus stand over four km from the international border.

Sources say people in border villages have been asked not to gather in large numbers.

Intermittent firing continues at Arnia and RS Pura sectors. Pakistani soldiers have also been firing in BG sector in Poonch since this morning.

The Indian Army says this is one of the worst violations of the 2003 ceasefire between the two countries.

A man who lives near the border said, "Firing is still on at our village. People are scared. We don't know where to go."

Vijay Kumar, one of the injured, said, "I have never seen such massive firing. Bombs were falling on houses."

Some of the injured, who are being treated at the government medical college in Jammu, are believed to be in a critical state.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said this morning, "Pakistan should stop ceasefire violations and understand the reality. They should understand that the ground reality has changed in India."

The attacks, say sources, could be linked to the killing of five Pakistani soldiers in retaliatory action in recent weeks.

There was also an infiltration attempt this morning. Three terrorists were killed while trying to cross over at the Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the army said.
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