Jammu, January 6 – The situation along the International border is turning grim with every passing hour across Jammu frontier. On Monday one more BSF jawan was martyred in heavy shelling from across the border while several hundred people migrated to safer places and took shelter across relief camps in Samba, Hiranagar and Kathua.
According to official sources, one BSF jawan identified as constable Devendra Singh of 9 BN, BSF was martyred in Samba district while two others were injured in cross border firing.
According to these sources, unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side started around 2pm in which several civilian areas were targeted while more than 2 dozen BSF posts also came under heavy fire.
Fearing further escalation of tension local residents camping in their houses in forward villages decided to shift to safer places and were evacuated by the local police and other agencies to safer places.
Following tension in the area Samba and Kathua district administrations on Monday ordered the closure of schools in the bordering belts. The firing which continued intermittently till late evening triggered fresh migration from several villages in Samba and Kathua district.
According to official sources, seven blasts were also reported near the relief camps in Samba sector. “Situation along the border is very tense and in view of continuous heavy shelling from across the IB, we have ordered the closure of schools in Hiranagar and Marheen belts from tomorrow till further orders,” Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner Kathua said.
Choudhary said that all the examinations and assessment tests scheduled to be held in these areas have been postponed and fresh dates will be notified separately. “There was heavy shelling by Pakistan till this evening but intermittent firing is still continue”.
The DC said on Monday around 2,000 more border dwellers have been shifted to the safer locations in the buses of security forces while ambulances and teams of doctors have also been put on alert to meet any eventuality.
“Small arms firing were reported in Hiranagar Sub-Division all across the IB, which was followed by intense shelling,” he said, adding that range of shelling also increased in areas like Chakra, Sherpur and Londi when shells exploded at the distance of 4-kms from the IB.
More than 2,500 people have been evacuated to safer places making the number of migrants in relief camps to 4300. “The number of migrants is expected to cross 12,000 as more than 15 villages have been affected during intense firing,” the DC said, adding that high alert has been sounded in view of heavy cross border firing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Samba Mubarak Singh said the schools have also been closed in this belt, adding, “thousands of people have been shifted to the camps established by the district administration and the process is still underway.”
He also confirmed that at least seven blasts also took place near the camps in Keso and Barota villages but no injury or casualty was reported in the explosions.
BSF DG to visit Kashmir today:
Fearing further escalation of tension along the International border with Pakistan, Union Home Ministry has decided to rush DG BSF DK Pathak to Jammu to take stock of the security situation and brief local commanders on how to tackle the emerging situation on ground zero.
According to official sources, “BSF Director General DK Pathak is rushing to border areas along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of heavy shelling from Pakistan on Tuesday”.
Pathak also briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday evening about the incidents of heavy mortar shelling across the IB. They said the Border Security Force Chief will visit the forward areas in Samba-Kathua areas on Tuesday even as he is expected to review defence prepardness along the IB which has been continuously witnessing incidents of ceasefire violations since December 31.
Earlier in the day, the Home Minister chaired a meeting of the top security brass during which the situation at the border, including damage to civilian assets, was reviewed. Officials said Singh asked the security agencies, especially BSF, to remain alert and ensure that apart from giving a befitting reply to Pakistan Rangers, the force should ensure the security of its personnel and strive for zero casualty.
They said the Home Minister also asked these agencies to be vigilant in the wake of of Pakistan’s statements that they would now “communicate (with India) in the language they understand”.
-INDIA TODAY
