Jammu: The Pakistani Rangers on Tuesday continued shelling on the international border (IB) in the Jammu and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir affecting 30 BSF border outposts and some two dozen villages, police said.
According to the police, the Pakistani Rangers have been carrying out indiscriminate shelling and firing in Arnia, RS Pura and Ramgarh sectors in the Jammu and Samba districts since Monday, targetting at least 30 BSF outposts and some two dozen border villages.
“People have been advised to remain indoors till the situation returns to normal,” a police officer said. All schools close to the IB have been closed.
The Pakistani shelling and firing started around 7 pm on Monday in Arnia and later extended to the two other sectors.
“The Border Security Force has been retaliating strongly and effectively as intermittent firing exchanges continue in these areas,” added the police official.
Cattles have perished and houses have been damaged in the Pakistani ceasefire violation.
An eight-month-old baby hit by a stray bullet fired from across the border on Saturday succumbed to the injuries on Monday.
Six people, including a policeman, a woman and four others were injured in the Pakistani shelling in Arnia sector on Monday.
Meanwhile, as Pakistani Rangers continued shelling on the international border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the security forces have a free hand to respond as they deem fit if the neighbouring country continued the offensive.
Speaking at the Border Security Force’s (BSF) 16th investiture ceremony function here, Singh said “We have a neighbour that does not want to correct itself.
“Yet, we must not fire the first bullet at our neighbour. But if it opens fire, you (security forces) have to decide what action to take. Then no one will ask why you did so.”
New Delhi had on May 16, announced a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, asking security forces to halt their operations during Ramadan to help “peace loving Muslims” observe the holy month in a peaceful environment.
The Minister also said that perhaps the neighbouring nation “did not want peace for some unknown reasons”.