M A I N   N E W S

3 hurt as Pak pounds 40 Indian posts
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Home Minister reviews situation Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday took stock of the situation along the border. He directed BSF to take steps to ensure security of civilians in the areas being targeted Director General, BSF, DK Pathak will arrive in Jammu on Tuesday Jawan killed in Kupwara encounter An Army jawan was killed in an encounter with militants in Kupwara district late on Monday. The gun battle broke out in the forest area of Lolab after the Army launched an operation to track a group of militants, an Army official said. The encounter was on till reports last came in. DGMOs to discuss firing The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of either side are slated to speak to each other over phone on Tuesday Indian DGMO is expected to take up the issue of 'unprovoked' firing by Pakistan (Details on Nation page)

Ramgarh/RS Pura, August 25
At least three civilians were injured, one of them critically, and another injured as Pakistan dragged Kanachak and Ramgarh sub-sectors in the bloody gunbattle, pounding 40 Indian posts and nearly 30 villages in RS Pura, Arnia, Kanachak and Ramgarh sub-sectors overnight on the 198-km international border.

The spate of skirmishes between BSF and Rangers, which started around 10 pm Sunday night, lasted till 7 am today.

“Pakistan overnight shelled 40 Indian posts with long-range high trajectory area weapons in RS Pura, Arnia, Kanachak and Ramgarh sectors of Jammu and Samba districts,” said a senior BSF officer. They resorted to heavy mortar shelling and the HMG fire in Arnia, RS Pura, Kanachak and Ramgarh sub-sectors. The BSF initially exercised restraint but then retaliated firmly, he added.

The officer quoted Pakistan media reports claiming that a man was injured seriously and 65 houses were either destroyed or damaged in BSF’s retaliatory fire.

Three injured Indian villagers have been identified as Roshan Lal (46) and Usha Devi (30) of Flora village in RS Pura and Omkar Chand (35) of Kathar Village in Arnia.

One buffalo was killed while another injured in Trewa Village in Arnia. Recounting horror unleashed by Pakistan last night, Roshan Lal’s elder brother Saudagar Mal said, “It was for the first time that our village, which is two kms from Zero Line, was targeted by Pakistan. Around 15 mortars of 82 mm were rained on this village. One exploded on our house, seriously injuring my brother and killing a buffalo.”

Jasvir Singh of same village said that nobody from the administration alerted them to shift to safer areas.

“My house, which is at the other end of the village, also came under attack for the first time. Two heavy mortars exploded near my shops and in my field. My house is situated three kms from Roshan’s house from where Zero Line is two kms. So, it is clear that Pakistan has started using long-range heavy mortars,” he said.

On Saturday, two persons — a man and his minor son -— were killed and five others, including a BSF jawan, were injured in Pakistan shelling. Duing the present flare up since July 16, Pakistan, for the first time, has dragged Kanachak and Ramgarh sub-sectors.

“Though there were no civilian casualties or injuries, Pakistan opened heavy fire on the 15-km stretch of the Kanachak sub-sector, drawing BSF into an exchange of fire. They started fire around 11 pm last night and the exchanges continued till 5.30 am,” said Kanachak SHO, Rakesh Kumar.