A woman was killed and eight other people were injured Saturday in Pakistani shelling along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba and Kathua districts, police said.
The woman identified as 45-year-old Toshi Devi, wife of Somnath and a resident of Mangu Chak village in Samba district, was injured in the shelling and succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.
The eight injured were being treated in the same hospital in Jammu, a police officer told IANS.
The shelling forced scores of villagers to migrate.
Reports from the border villages of Manyari, Paansar, Bobia, Londi, Sadechak, Chailari, Chachwal, Mangu Chak, Regaal, Mawa, Sadho and Chak Fakira said dozens of families started migrating to safer places because of the shelling.
Police also said Pakistan Rangers had fired at Border Security Force outposts around 9.30 p.m. Friday.
The BSF retaliated to the Pakistani firing.
The firing exchange that stopped at 3.30 a.m. Saturday resumed in Hiranagar, Ramgarh and Samba sectors of the international border, police said.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party activists carried out a protest march in Jammu against the Pakistani shelling.
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told PTI today that two women were among the four injured in the firing and shelling in civilian areas in Hirangar belt.
The injured have been identified as Suresh Singh of Nau-chak, Mansu, Rajni and Madhu Bala of Chan Laldin village, DC said.
“Residents of four villages have been evacuated. Others may be shifted if required,” he said.
Ambulances and doctors have been deputed at Hiranagar and three buildings have been made operational as relief camps keeping in view the volatile situation prevailing in the area, he said.
Eight BSF posts of Patti, Pansar, Londi, Bobiya, Chakara, Lacchipura in Kathua district and seven border outposts in Samba district, including Manguchack, Chilyadiya, Regal, Chachval, Ramgarh, Maluchack and Nanga posts came under fire.
All villages in Paharpur, Katau, Charu, Londi, Patti, Chakara, Lacchipura, Bobiya, Pansar, Manyari, Karol and Paharpur in Hiranagar sector, Khwara, Regal, Chilyari, Manguchak, Chachyal, Ramgarh, Maluchak, Suchetgarh Kullian and Mawa in Samba sectors were targeted by the Pakistani Rangers.
Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary along with senior officials is camping in Hiranagar to monitor the situation and coordinate relief and rescue operations.
All sarpanchs, panchs, lumbderdar and prominent persons in 57 border villages have been instructed to communicate to the public regarding safety measures. Relief camps have also been kept in preparedness, he said.
Last night, the force had thwarted a “major infiltration attempt” from across the border.
Under the cover of shelling and firing, the Rangers tried to push a group of seven to eight heavily armed militants from forward area of Chor Gali in Samba sector at 11.30 PM.
The alert BSF jawans spotted the militants intruding towards the Indian territory and opened heavy firing towards them. The militants fled back to Pakistan.
IANS