Along the International Border (IB) from the Chicken Neck area in Jammu district to Paharpur in Kathua district, Pakistani Rangers continued firing at a number of places. The Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) also retaliated and there were no casualties or damage to property on the Indian side.

The Indian Army also held exercise in Kaluchak area near Jammu last evening, causing anxiety among the people. People who noticed lit objects going up in the sky and heard the sound of explosions they mistook it for a bombardment from across the border. Official sources, however, said that it was a routine exercise by the Army and there was no intrusion by Pakistani troops in the area.

However, tension prevails all along the IB and the LOC in Jammu region, following concentration byPakistani troops and deployment of heavy weapons during the last few days. People are said to be migrating in large numbers to safer places from Pallanwalla area in Akhnoor tehsil, following heavy shelling by Pakistani troops from across the LOC.

Sources said that Pakistan has moved its additional division along the LOC in the areas facing Rajouri and Poonch districts. Besides, it had installed additional artillery guns, and also deployed commondo and signal battalions in the area, they said quoting reports received from across the border.

In Chhamb sector (Akhnoor tehsil) of Jammu district, it had moved tanks and installed heavy artillery guns. Similarly, the Pakistani troops have reached the vicinity of the ditch-cum-bund (DCB) in full battle gear on their side of the International Border in Jammu and Kathua districts.

Not only this, the Pakistani troops have also got vacated most of the villages falling on their side of the border in Jammu region.