2 civilians killed in Sialkot, 1 in Akhnoor
Press trust of India
Exchange of gunfire between soldiers of India and Pakistan on the border in Jammu region early Tuesday claimed the lives of three civilians, authorities said.
Two Pakistanis and an Indian villager were killed in the incident.
Six civilians were wounded in the Bajwat sector near Sialkot, a city in the eastern Punjab province of Pakistan, while four Indian civilians were also injured in the firing and mortar shelling.
Pakistani authorities claimed that they fired in response to India’s “unprovoked” action. However, an official with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) said India “retaliated” to firing from Pakistani troops.
“Pakistani Rangers resorted to firing of small arms and mortar shells on BOPs (border outposts) along IB (International Border) in Kanachak and Pargwal sectors of Jammu district from 0540 hours,” a BSF spokesman said.
The firing took place moments after two people, suspected to be militants, were spotted along the international border, BSF officials said.
“Two militants were seen moving suspiciously during the night and again observed in the wee hours opposite Kanachak area in Jammu district,” a BSF officer said.
Pakistani and Indian troops deployed along the J&K border often exchange fire, and Indian authorities said that this was the second ceasefire violation by Pakistan in less than 48 hours. According to local reports, there have been 19 ceasefire violations along the India-Pakistan border in July, killing four people, including three military personnel, and injuring 14 others.
PAK LODGES PROTEST:
Pakistan today lodged a protest with India over the killing of two civilians in alleged firing by Indian troops across the border in Kashmir.
Pakistan lodged a protest with India’s mission in Islamabad over firing by Indian troops in Pukhlian-Aknur sector at the working boundary in which two civilians were killed aged 14 and 22 and seven others, including three children and two women, injured, the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.
“The unprovoked ceasefire violations were started by India at New Kane and two other posts at 0530 hours today. Pakistani posts responded to this provocation. The Indian troops then opened fire from all their posts in the area, targeting civilians and villages,” the Foreign Office claimed.
“The Government of Pakistan conveyed its deep concern at the continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian side at the LoC and the working boundary and targeting of the civilians,” it said and condemned the alleged ceasefire violations by India.