Over 2,000 border villagers in Jammu return home

Jammu: Over 2,000 residents of border villages in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts returned home on Thursday following guns on the international border in Jammu region remaining silent for the last three days.

"Over 2,000 people from different villages in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts returned home Thursday and yesterday Wednesday after cross-border shelling and firing stopped on the international border in these districts," a senior official told IANS in Jammu.

Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistani Rangers field commanders held a meeting at Octroi Post in R S Pura sector of the international border in Jammu district on Monday to defuse tension on the border.

The commanders of both forces agreed to respect the bilateral ceasefire and work together to uphold it.

There has been no violation of ceasefire by Pakistan since Monday evening and peace has since then returned to the borders.

One civilian was killed and over a dozen others were injured in indiscriminate shelling and firing by Pakistan Rangers on the international border in Jammu region last week.

Over 3,000 villagers from border areas in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts had abandoned their homes after last week's cross-border shelling.

The state government had set up 20 makeshift accommodations for these migrants in government buildings and religious places.

(IANS)