As Indian forces retaliate, Pakistan resorts to targeting civilians across LoC

Arnia (Jammu): Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday said it had killed 15 Pakistani paramilitary personnel while retaliating to cross- border shelling and firing over the last week.

But Pakistani troops are pounding border hamlets with heavy mortar shells to especially target civilians in the latest round of ceasefire violations by the neighbouring country.

Two civilians were killed on Friday while another was injured as Pakistan continued heavy shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) throughout the day.

In four days previously, a six-year old boy and a man have been killed and 24 civilians injured while over 60 cattle have perished and 200 cattle left injured in firing by Pakistani troops. Scores of houses and other structures along the IB in Jammu district are riddled with ammunition from across the border.

The situation worsens during night time as villagers struggle to find a safe place to escape from the gunfire.

"Pakistani troops are now increasingly targeting civilians. They are resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing targeting our houses and animals," says Subash Chander of village Suchetgarh said.

Subash, whose seven family members were injured as shells exploded in the compound of his house close to IB in Suchetgarh, said the Pakistani troops rain mortar bomb shells and fire from automatic weapons targeting civilians.

"We are sitting ducks for the Pakistani troops, who find civilian targets and their properties to target after they failed to fight with BSF troops," he said.

The firing from across the border had intensified from October 21 when BSF killed seven Pak Rangers and a terrorist in retaliatory firing.

Many people from border hamlets in R S Pura, Arnia, Hiranagar, and Pargwal sectors have fled their homes and taken shelter in migrant camps set up by the state government at safer places.

"As the shell landed in our compound, there was a deafening blast and splinters injured us mostly in legs. All were lying in blood," Subash's wife Kamlesh Devi said.

Kamlesh along with her daughter Sukhi is undergoing treatment in GMC hospital.

Daljeet Kaur, who was working close to her house in Chand Chak (R S Pura), was injured when a mortar shell exploded. She was taken by her husband to hospital.

"It looks as if Pakistan is specifically targeting civilians and cattle with specific. Their guns look for human targets," Kaur said.

In Suchetgarh, Ramesh Chander was returning home on a motorbike when a shell exploded near him, injuring his leg. In Karotana Khurd hamlet close to Indo-Pak border,

Pakistani troops shelled the houses of Kuwinder Singh and Bishan Dass.

"We passed the night huddled in one room as the house was shelled," said Kulwinder, who later left his home along with his mother, wife and two daughters.

There are similar horrific tales from people, who feel they living under the shadow of death.

Harbans Lal of Vidhpur says his entire family would have perished had the shell, which pierced through the roof of their house, had landed any closer to the room where they were huddled.

Three shells landed in the compound of the house of Desh Raj of Vidhpur hamlet close to IB in R S Pura.

"One shell hit a vehicle and damaged it. One landed close to wash room and another landed in the compound of the house," he said.