Fire inside house: Retired DSP, 5 others of family die of asphyxiation in J&K
Six persons of a family, including two children, died of asphyxiation when a fire erupted in a house in Jammu's Kathua early Wednesday, officials said.
Five civilians have died and at least 43 persons sustained injuries in shelling by Pakistan Rangers since Tuesday night on villages along the International Border stretching 120 km from Kathua to Akhnoor of Jammu division.
DGP SP Vaid said on Wednesday Pakistan troops were continuing to fire mortars in the border villages of Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts.
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With this, number of deaths due to mortar shelling by Pakistan Rangers during the past week has risen to 12. The deceased include two BSF personnel.
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One civilian was killed and five were injured on Wednesday morning as Pakistan Rangers shelled the Samkha village of Ranbirsinghpura sector in Jammu.
Dozens of cattle have also perished in Pakistani shelling while houses and other structures have suffered massive damage.
Additional District Magistrate Arun Manhas said Pakistan forces had also been indulging in heavy Shelling in the Arnia sector since 5 am. The injured persons have been shifted to hospital.
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Schools in border areas have been shut as a precautionary measure.
Manhas said the BSF was retaliating strongly and effectively.
While India has ordered a unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan, Pakistan has been indulging in unprovoked shelling.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had urged Pakistan to reciprocate the gesture.
Meanwhile, police said over 40,000 border villagers were forced to migrate from their homes due to the continued shelling by Pakistan Rangers who are targeting civilian and defence facilities in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
While some of the migrants have taken shelter in makeshift camps set up by the administration, most others preferred to shift to the houses of relatives and friends. Each household has reportedly left behind a male member to fend for the cattle and guard their homes from burglars.
Quoting a police officer, an IANS report said there were confirmed large scale migration from RS Pura, Arnia, Ramgarh and other sectors close to the international border (IB).
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