This Article is From Aug 28, 2015

Fear in Border Villages after Pakistani Shelling Leaves 3 Dead in Jammu

The relentless shelling and firing by Pakistan Rangers has led to a sense of fear amongst the villagers in RS Pura.

Jammu and Kashmir: Three people including two women have been killed, and 22 others injured at the international border in RS Pura, where guns have not fallen silent since Thursday night, there was heavy exchange of fire between the Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers.

The Pakistani side has targeted not just BSF positions, but civilian areas as well.

The relentless shelling and firing has led to a sense of fear in Abdullian village, most Pakistani shells have landed in the village which is a few metres away from the firing spot.

55-year-old Pawan Kumar was killed, while his father's arm was blown away in the Pakistani shelling. Recollecting the horrors of last night, his brother Shyam Lal told NDTV, "Pawan Kumar was the only bread earner of our family, we were all dependent on him, we are four brothers. Two are handicapped and can't even walk."

Just 15 kilometres away from Abdullian, Sai village presents a picture of death and destruction as well. Two women from a family were killed in the shelling, while four other family members were injured.

"There was a lot of firing going on, mostly in the morning, lots of shells landed here, my uncle told the other family members to go inside the house, that's the time when a shell hit our house", said Indu Kamari, the youngest member of the family.

There has been a surge in border firings since Prime Minister Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance government came to power last year. There have been 55 ceasefire violations in August and over 245 violations this year so far.

"Till the time Pakistan is not declared a terrorist state such things would continue... this just shows the desperation of Pakistan", said Nirmal Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir.

The latest ceasefire violation at the border comes just days before the high profile talks between the chiefs of BSF and Pakistani Rangers from September 9 for resolving border tensions between the two countries.
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