BSF man killed, 7 civilians injured in Jammu shelling

Jammu, Oct 27: A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and seven civilians were injured on Thursday during heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani forces in Jammu district's R.S. Pura sector, officials said.

BSF spokesperson Shubhendu Bhardwaj told IANS that head constable Jitendra Kumar, resident of Motihari in Bihar, died after sustaining splinter injuries during shelling at Abdullian in R.S. Pura sector.

Kumar, 45, was inducted in the BSF in 1991. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

Police said that the seven injured civilians, including five women belonging to two families of Goparbasti village, have been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Pakistani troopers also started indiscriminate shelling and firing on the international border in the neighbouring Samba district.

"Pakistan Rangers targeted BSF positions in S.M. Pur, Nanga and Chambyal villages of Samba district.

"People from shelling affected villages of R.S. Pura and Akhnoor in Jammu district and areas of Samba district have started moving to safer locations," the police said.

Intermittent shelling and firing exchanges continued in both Samba and R.S. Pura.