SIALKOT: After two days of silence, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shelled several villages in Charwah, Sucheetgarh and Bajwat sectors along the Sialkot Working Boundary on Thursday.

The unprovoked firing by the Indian forces had come to a halt after a visit to the region by UN peacekeeping military observers on Tuesday before it restarted on Thursday morning.

Indian firing continued for two hours in villages of Charwah, Beeni, Sulehri­ya­­an, Akhnoor, Behladpur, Gu­n­jiyaal, Gandiyal, Dham­ala, Wada Dhamala, Harpal, Bajra Garhi, Morchapur, Anu­la, Dhaliyaan, Kotli Kh­waja, Ludha Gung, Chu­mat, Siyal, Jhund, Jarwal, Theekariyal, Sojan, Sakro­ori and Shahpur. These villages are located in Bajwat, Sucheetgarh, Charwah, Umeraanwali, Chaprar and Bajra Garhi sectors along the Working Boundary.

The BSF also targeted Chenab Rangers’ Shah Ja­mal post in the Bajwat sector.

Officials of the Chenab Rangers said the BSF started shelling at 3am which continued till 5am, again targeting the civilian population.

Several houses were damaged by the shelling.

The Chenab Rangers retaliated instantly, silencing the Indian guns.

No injury or loss of life was reported.

Villagers said heavy mortar shells were used by Indians.

People of the affected areas had started to return to their houses after UN peacekeeping observers’ visit to the border villages. The latest incident of firing took place a day after Pakistan and India agreed on de-escalation along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. The decision on ending hostilities was taken during a conversation between the heads of military operations’ directorates of the armies of the two countries.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2014