Shelling resumes in RS Pura, Arnia sectors as Pakistan violates truce

Jammu/ Islamabad, October 26

Cross-border shelling resumed in Arnia and RS Pura sectors in Jammu on Wednesday as Pakistan targeted Indian posts with heavy mortar and small arms on Wednesday evening. 

Eleven people were injured in cross-border firing that occurred in RS Pura on Wednesday morning.

RS Pura has been hit the hardest in the frequent exchange of fire this past week. The truce violations and shelling have forced authorities to advise residents against venturing out of their homes.

The latest development comes hours after Pakistan summoned India's deputy high commissioner to “protest truce violations” on the border and the Line of Control for the second time on Wednesday.

"The Indian deputy high commissioner (JP Singh) was summoned by the director general (South Asia & SAARC) today. A strong protest was lodged against the unprovoked ceasefire violations," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Pakistan has protested ‘truce violations’ in Chaprar and Harpal sectors and on the LoC in Bhimber sector on October 25 and 26, the statement said.

Pakistan claims two civilians were killed and nine others were wounded in the firing.

"It was conveyed to the Indian side that it should investigate the incident and share the findings with Pakistan, instruct its troops to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, refrain from intentionally targeting the villages and maintain peace on the Working Boundary and the LoC," the office said.

Frequent shelling has ratcheted up tensions between the two countries. A 6-year-old boy and a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier were killed in heavy shelling and firing by Pakistani troops in RS Pura sector earlier on October 24. Another BSF soldier and eight civilians were also injured in the firing.

Another BSF jawan Gurnam Singh, who was hit in the sniper attack in Hiranagar sector along the International Border in Kathua district on Friday night, died late on Saturday.

Pakistan has violated truce more than 40 times since Indian forces conducted coordinated military strikes on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan on September 28.

The strike came within 10 days of a militant attack on an army camp in north Kashmir’s Uri. Eighteen soldiers were killed in the attack. — TNS/ Agencies