Srinagar: At least three civilians were killed and 16 others were injured in small arms and mortar fire by Pakistani border guards in the Ranbir Singh Pura and Arnia sectors along the international border in J&K overnight, officials said on Friday.
Dozens of cattle were also killed and many residential homes suffered damage in this latest violation of the November 2003 ceasefire agreement, forcing the people of border areas to relocate to safer places.
The BSF said it had retaliated over the “unprovoked” Pakistani firing and shelling by using the same calibre weapons. Intermittent firing between the two sides was sill going on as reports last came in.
In Sialkot, Pakistani officials said eight civilians were killed and 46 others injured in the villages of Charwah, Harpal, Chaprar and Sucheetgarh sectors in BSF firing.
A report from Islamabad said India’s high commissioner to Pakistan T.C.A. Raghawan was summoned to the foreign office and a “strong protest” was lodged with him over the ceasefire violations by the BSF near Sialkot.
The two sides have clashed days before the heads of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers are due to meet in New Delhi from September 9.
