Our armed forces are fully ready, warns Defence Minister after Pakistan violates ceasefire

New Delhi: Pakistan rangers target 40 border outposts and villages in heavy mortar shelling and firing on Tuesday in four sub-sectors of Jammu district along the International Border.

BSF spokesperson informed that 3 people were injured in the firing.

Heavy shelling and unprovoked firing by Pakistani soldiers on Sunday night in the Jammu and Poonch areas led to killing of five civilians and nearly 30 others were injured.

Pakistan yet again resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing in Mankote and arnia sectors on Monday evening. The exchange of fire was on, a defence spokesman said.

BSF troops retaliated effectively and gave a befitting reply in the overnight ceasfire violation, the spokesman said.

Villagers sit near a blood stained spot after alleged mortar shell firing from the Pakistan side into a residential area at Masha da kothe village, in Arnia Sector near the India-Pakistan international border (Photo: AP)

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley who was discharged from hospital on Monday after a long illness warned, "Let everybody be assured that our armed forces and para-military forces are fully ready and they are responding to each of these provocations from Pakistan."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Pakistan should stop ceasefire violations now and understand the reality that times have changed in India."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah strongly condemned the shelling on civilians, saying targeting them exposed the frustration of the Pakistani government after its failure to gain international attention on the Kashmir issue.

Villagers gather around the spot where indiscriminate firing by Pakistan Rangers at a residential area killed five residents near the India-Pakistan international border in Jammu sector (Photo: PTI)

Omar attended cremation of those killed in Arnia and also visited the village which came under heavy Pakistani shelling in the wee hours of on Monday.

The Chief Minister said he will brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in the wake of frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

A correspondent, who visited some of the affected areas hit by the shelling, saw blood stained beds, torn off roof-tops and windows punctured by bullets besides splinters of mortar bombs lying scattered around.

There were some reports of people moving out of the affected areas, fearing fresh attacks.