Jammu,Aug 25, (IANS) The Pakistan Rangers used mortars and other long range weapons to target Indian positions on the international border in Jammu and Samba districts during the night, triggering migration of residents from several villages, police said.

A senior police officer said the Pakistan Rangers targeted the Border Security Force (BSF) posts in both Jammu and Samba districts during the night. “For the first time, the Pakistan Rangers have extended ceasefire violations to Ramgarh sector of Samba district in the night by using mortar shells and other long-range weapons to target Indian positions.

“They also targeted BSF outposts in R.S. Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district during the night. The BSF effectively retaliated Pakistan firing at all these places,” he said.

“The firing started at 10 p.m. last night and continued intermittently till morning today (Sunday).”

Reports from Arnia sub-sector in Jammu district said residents from several villages have migrated to safer places during the night.

Eye-witnesses in the area said it was “a warlike situation the residents are facing in these areas”.

Inspector General BSF (Jammu Frontier) Rakesh Kumar Sharma told reporters Saturday that the Pakistan army had mixed up with the rangers on the international border to speed up ceasefire violations.

“The Pakistan army is helping rangers during ceasefire violations. They want media coverage so that public attention is shifted from the crisis in their country”, Sharma said.