3, including 2 BSF jawans, injured as Pak Rangers open fire along border in J&K’s Arnia, RS Pura sectors

The unprovoked ceasefire violation, which comes after nearly two and a half years, led many locals to leave their houses and migrate to safer places though the paddy crop in the region is ready for harvest. Agricultural labourers who had come from Uttar Pradesh for harvesting work also fled following the shelling from across the border.

The small arms firing by Pakistani Rangers, which started at around 8 pm in the Arnia sector, soon turned into mortar shelling. They initially targeted nearly half a dozen locations and around midnight they started firing at two to three places adjoining the Suchetgarh sector also, sources said, adding that there has been an atmosphere of fear in the area.

Following the killing of a number of villagers and large-scale destruction of civilian property on both sides, the BSF and Pakistani Rangers had in February 2021 agreed to maintain a ceasefire along the border. Barring a few sporadic incidents, peace prevailed. However, on October 17, two BSF personnel were injured in unprovoked firing by Pakistani Rangers in the Arnia sector.

Four days later, the Rangers escorted a group of people near the international border on their side. The BSF, however, fired warning shots and made them retreat. Later, the BSF lodged a protest over such incidents at a flag meeting with its Pakistani counterpart.