Pakistan shells Hiranagar villages, damages houses

Jammu. August 22

Pakistan Rangers targeted civilian areas with mortars along the international border (IB) in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, damaging nearly half a dozen residential houses and injuring some head of cattle.

According to the official sources, Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing around 11.30 pm and opened heavy fire while targeting the Karol Mathna post of the BSF in the Hiranagar sector, prompting the the BSF to give strong retaliation to the enemy fire.

“The exchanges of fire and mortars continued till 4.40 am on Saturday. Pakistan Rangers, however, spread the arc of fire and also targeted two villages in the sector triggering panic among the villagers,” the sources said.

In the past one week, Pakistan Rangers had targeted the civilian areas in the Hiranagar sector on several occasions.

“Pakistan shelling has caused damage to half a dozen houses in Chak Changa and Krol Mathran villages in Hiranagar,” the sources said, adding, “Two plastic water tanks on the rooftops in Chann Tanda were also hit by Pakistan mortars”.

The border dwellers also staged a protest against Pakistan Rangers and they threatened to migrate from border areas if the authorities did not take immediate measures for their safety. — TNS