RS Pura/Arnia, July 20
After a lull, Pakistan Rangers on Sunday targeted nearly 30-km stretch of the international border from Pittal outpost to Gharana in the RS Pura sector of Jammu district raining mortars (81 mm and 51 mm) and heavy machine gun fire on Indian positions and villages, triggering panic among villagers.

At least two cows were killed and another was injured at Gharana village. Four more cattle were injured in other villages and a house was damaged at Gharani village in the firing and shelling from across the border.

Though there was no loss of human life on the Indian side, Pakistan media reports claimed that one Pakistani civilian was killed and seven others were injured in Harpal village of Sialkot district in the latest skirmish.

The Tribune team that toured Gharana, Gharani, Jeora Farm, Rakh Jeora Nikowal, Sai Khurd, Sai Kalan, Sai Kalan Fagla, Trewa, Pindi, Pittal, Chanana, Changiya, Jabowal, Kathar and Kaku-de-Kothay villages came across fear-stricken villagers. The team saw Army squads scanning villages and agriculture farms collecting unexploded mortars and detonating them safely.

A senior BSF officer said, “Rangers started fire around 12.30 am on our posts from Pittal border outpost to Gharana — stretch of nearly 30 kms along the border. They kept firing mortars till 3 am and then switched over to machine gun fire that continued till 7 am.”

“We responded forcefully,” he added. The officer said the Rangers used every weapon — from small arms to heavy machine gun and mortars (81 mm and 51 mm).

“However, in order to ensure peace on the border, BSF took an initiative in the afternoon. Jammu Sector Commander DIG BS Kasana contacted on phone Pak Rangers Sialkot Sector Commander, Brigadier Mateen,” he said.