India violates LoC ceasefire: one killed, four injured

Deploys 2,000 additional Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and special surveillance equipment along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu

A Pakistani citizen was martyred and four others, including three women, were injured on Sunday due to shelling by Indian Security Forces on Sialkot border villages Harpal, Thathi Khurd, Theekariyaal, Jarwal and Charwah of Sialkot Working Boundary’s Charwah Sector.

After visiting the villages hit by Indian shelling, Pasrur Assistant Commissioner Tauqeer Ilyas Cheema told reporters that Indian Security Force fired heavy mortar shells at villages Harpal, Thathi Khurd, Theekariyaal, Jarwal and Charwah.

He said that some shells hit the house of local farmer Muhammad Iqbal in village Thathi Khurd, killing him on the spot.

He said that several Indian shells also hit the house of another farmer, Muhammad Ansar, in village Harpal, seriously injuring his wife, daughter and son.

The AC said that a woman, Azra, was also injured by the Indian shelling, which continued for about two and half hours.

Rescue officials shifted the injured to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Sialkot, where their condition is stated to be critical.

The locals reported that the shelling and firing from across the border killed livestock as well.

Senior officials of Chenab Rangers said that Chenab Rangers retaliated and silenced the Indian attack.

The recent firing occurred after a lull of several weeks as relations have seen a substantial improvement after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited India to attend the inaugural ceremony of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in May.

On July 16, two Pakistani soldiers were wounded in an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani forces in Charwah sector near Sialkot.

INDIA DEPLOYS 2,000 EXTRA TROOPS ALONG LOC:

India has deployed nearly 2,000 additional Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and special surveillance equipment along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region for effective domination of the areas.

The additional manpower, surveillance equipment, vehicles and other infrastructure support have been moved into the LoC to strengthen intelligence network, coordination with sister agencies and conduct special operations along the border, an Indian news outfit reported on Sunday.

According to reports, Indian Home Ministry officials said vulnerability mapping of the Border Outposts, which are sensitive to infiltration, have been carried out and additional resources have been deployed there.

The Indian Home Ministry has also called for round-the-clock surveillance of the borders through patrolling, border ambushes and by deploying observation posts all along the international border.

According to reports, officials said that the riverine segments of the international border are being patrolled and dominated with the help of water crafts and speed boats of Border Security Force’s water wings.