10,000 Flee Homes Near Border in Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistani Shelling Continues

Mangalore Today News Network

Jammu, Jan 06, 2015: Pakistani troops continued to fire across the border in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, targeting several Border Security Force or BSF posts in violation of the ceasefire.

The heavy shelling has forced nearly 10,000 people living close to the border to flee their homes. Schools and colleges are indefinitely closed and even relief camps have had to be evacuated in some areas, with the Pakistani shelling over the last few days extending to as much as 3.5 km inside Indian territory in some places like Chakra, Sherpur and Londi.

Ongoing examinations for Class XI have been put off.

Yesterday, 15 Indian posts were attacked by the Pakistan Rangers in Samba and Hiranagar. One BSF jawan was injured and later died. The Director General of the BSF is scheduled to go to Jammu today and visit the forward areas.

One woman was killed and 10 other civilians injured in ceasefire violations earlier this week.

New relief camps have been opened at Sallan, Chhankhatryan, Chak Haria and Upper Londi. There are now 14 camps to cater to the 4300 residents who have been evacuated and the authorities said more blankets and other supplies have been dispatched for the camps.

Around 2,500 people were evacuated on Monday alone; the number of people evacuated is expected to cross 12,000 as more than 50 villages have been affected with the increased intensity and range of shelling.

An Emergency Response Centre established by the district administration at Hiranagar has issued a high-alert in the wake of heavy shelling.

 

Courtesy: NDTV