BSF jawan, couple killed, 8 civilians injured as Pak shells border villages in Jammu, Samba,

Jammu, May 18: A BSF jawan and a couple were killed and eight civilians injured as Pakistan shelled heavily in Jammu and Samba districts early morning on Friday.

"Pakistani troops during wee hours on Friday yet again resorted to heavy mortar shelling in Arnia, R S Pura sectors of Jammu and Samba sectors," official sources here told TNN.

They said that the cross-border shelling has so far left a BSF Jawan martyred, a couple killed and eight civilians injured.

"Pakistani troops started firing and shelling targeting Indian positions and civilian areas in Arnia, R S and adjoining Samba sectors during wee hours," they added.

BSF Jawan Sita Ram Upadhyay, 28 from Paliganj, Jharkhand deployed at a post in Arnia, was injured seriously in cross-border firing. He succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital.

Civilian Farooq Ali of Joura Farm, R S Pura, also sustained injuries in firing and was rushed to the hospital.

Seven civilians injured in cross-border firing were admitted in GMC, out of which two have been identified as Payara Lal, 60, of R S Pura and Raman Kumar Gupta, 55, Treva, Arnia.

A couple identified as Tarsem Lal, and his wife Manjeet, residents of village Chandu Chak, R S Pura, who were injured in firing, succumbed.

Police sources also said that there are unconfirmed reports of two more deaths in Arnia sub-sector.

The BSF personnel retaliated effectively to the firing. Intermittent exchange of fire at some places was still continuing.

More than 15 border outposts and an equal number of villages are affected by the shelling.

The schools in the radius of 3-km from the border have also been ordered by the Sub-District Magistrate to remain closed on Friday in view of shelling.

A BSF Jawan was martyred in the firing by Pakistan's Rangers in Samba sector on Monday night foiling an infiltration bid by terrorists from across the border while a BSF Jawan and two civilians were injured in Pakistan's shelling in Samba and Hiranagar sectors on Thursday.

DG BSF, during Jammu visit, claimed that a group of five terrorists have infiltrated to this side.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Jammu on Saturday to inaugurate mega projects and lay foundations for some.