Arnia: Five people were killed and 25 injured in firing from Pakistan at the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir after midnight on Sunday, in a major violation of the 2003 ceasefire between the two countries.

There was also an infiltration attempt this morning. Three terrorists were killed while trying to cross over at the Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the army said.

Two women and a 13-year-old girl were among those killed when Pakistan Rangers started firing at posts of the Border Security Force or BSF and civilian areas in the Arnia sector of Jammu at around 1.30 am. Two members of one family have been killed.

Intermittent firing continues at Arnia and RS Pura sectors. Heavy mortar shelling was also reported from the area.

A man who lives near the border said, “Firing is still on at our village. People are scared. We don’t know where to go.”

The injured have been shifted to the government medical college in Jammu.

“It was one of their most serious ceasefire violations. Pakistan Rangers resorted to indiscriminate firing on Indian positions in Arnia sub-sector of international border during the night,” said a senior police officer.

“There was mortar shelling and they fired automatic weapons. Emergency relief teams have been rushed to the area,” the officer added.

Shelling from across the border was so heavy that some mortar shells reportedly fell inside a bus stand that is more than four km from the international border.

The attack comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, during which India and the US signed a joint declaration on fighting terror in the region.