Visakhapatnam/Jammu: The Indian Army will respond to ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said Saturday.
The minister also criticized the killing of civilians in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistani firing.
"Our army is prepared to respond to each violation. The country has full faith that they (army) are effectively protecting both the territory and the national interest," Jaitley told the media here.
"The loss of civilian lives is considered condemnable even in war. During peace, it is even more condemnable.”
Jaitley said the army and the defence ministry were collecting information on the latest violation of the 2003 ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We will give our detailed reaction later," he said.
Two people were killed and seven injured Saturday in heavy firing by the Pakistan Rangers on Border Security Force posts in the R.S. Pura sector in Jammu district.
Earlier, two people were killed and seven others injured early Saturday in heavy firing by the Pakistan Rangers on the Border Security Force posts near the international border in R.S. Pura sector in Jammu district.
Pakistani troops reportedly targeted the BSF posts and villages in the Arnia and RS Pura sectors around midnight using long range mortar shells and heavy to medium machine guns.
"Two villagers, identified as Muhammad Akram and his 13-year-old son Aslam were killed and seven people including Akram's wife, his three children and a BSF constable were injured in heavy firing by the Pakistan Rangers in Jodafarm village of R.S. Pura sector today," a senior police officer told IANS.
All the injured people have been shifted to the Jammu Medical College for treatment.
"Firing by Pakistani troops is still on. The BSF (Border Security Force) has started retaliating," the officer said.
Pak troops also violated ceasefire along LoC in Hamirpur sector of Poonch district said Army officials
Reports from the area said the Pakistan Rangers were using heavy weapons to target BSF posts.
"They are targeting 17 border outposts of the BSF in R.S. Pura sector and Arnia sub-sector at the international border."
Forced by Pakistan firing, more than 2,000 villagers from three villages close to the international border in R.S. Pura sector had Friday migrated to safer places leaving their homes and cattle behind.
In the past two weeks, incidents of ceasefire violation have been reported almost every day - over 70 since the Narendra Modi government took charge in May.
Under the state government's contingency plan, the villagers have been temporarily accommodated in two government high school buildings and an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) building.
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