Jammu And Kashmir: Pakistan Firing Continues For 3rd Day, 5 Civilians, 3 Security Personnel Killed, Schools Shut Amid Heavy Shelling

Five civilians and three security personnel were killed in a relentless ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Krishna Ghati sector on Saturday.

Updated: January 21, 2018 12:01 AM IST

By India.com News Desk

Pak violates ceasefire firing. (Representative Picture)
गोलाबारी का भारतीय सेना ने करारा जवाब दिया. (प्रतीकात्मक तस्वीर)

Krishna Ghati, Jan 21: Five civilians and three security personnel were killed in a relentless ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Krishna Ghati sector on Saturday. “The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms and automatics since morning 08:20 am. While the Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively,” an official report said.

The security personnel included a 23-year-old Sepoy Mandeep Singh who was killed in unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district. “However, in the exchange of fire, Sepoy Mandeep Singh was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries. Mandeep Singh was a brave soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the statement added.

Saturday was the third consecutive day when Pakistan resorted to unprovoked shelling of civilian areas and border outposts (BoPs). On Saturday, Pakistani Rangers violated ceasefire RS Pora and Arnia sectors in Jammu. In RS Pora, two civilians were killed and three BSF personnel were injured. The fresh firing was reported from Ramgarh and Gharwal in Samba and Rajbagh in Kathua districts. On Friday, at least 11 civilians were injured across the state in the various ceasefires firing from across the border. In RS Pora, people were seen fleeing from their homes to safer places leaving behind their castles.

Reacting to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the people of the state are the worst victims of the hostility between the India and Pakistan. “Distraught to hear of three more civilians caught in the crossfire on the border. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are the worst victims of the acrimony between the two neighboring countries. I pray that the hostility on the borders ends soon,” she said.

Speaking to news agency ANI, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah termed the deaths a ‘tremendous tragedy’. “It’s not only BSF jawans but civilians also… It is a tremendous tragedy that is taking place on our border. I hope our neighbor realises it is not going to take us anywhere other than destruction,” the former Chief Minister said.

India and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement in November 2003, which have been violated several times. On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah to convey the continuous ceasefire violations and targeting of innocent civilians by Pakistani security forces. “Pakistan was again called upon to adhere to the November 2003 ceasefire understanding for maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Boundary,” the MEA said in a statement.

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