Heavy Pakistani shelling throughout Thursday night injured two BSF jawans and a woman and forced dozens of residents to flee their homes for safety on the international border in Jammu.

Officials on Friday said there was no firing during the day, prompting residents to return to their homes but the situation remains tense.

According to the BSF, Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing at Indian posts and civilian areas along the international border on Thursday night. The firing lasted for close to seven hours till 3am.

Officials said Pakistan Rangers fired mortars and used heavy machine guns, leading to two non-fatal casualties. Several houses suffered damage. Some of the shells landed in Arnia town, several kilometres inside the international border, where a woman was injured.

“BSF continues to monitor the developments closely while assessing the situation and remains alert to respond as necessary to ensure the safety and security of the border and its residents,” a BSF statement read.

It was the most intense ceasefire violation since February 2021, when the two countries had agreed to renew the ceasefire.

Two back-to-back violations during last week — preceding Thursday night’s exchange — had earlier left an army man and two BSF men injured.

The year 2020 had seen the deadliest flare-up in violence on borders since the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire in 2003. There were more than 5,000 ceasefire violations resulting in 22 civilians and 24 security force deaths during the year but in 2021, the ceasefire was renewed, offering a massive respite to border residents.

Police identified the injured woman as Rajni Devi of Arnia. BSF constable Basva Raj suffered minor splinter injuries in both hands because of shelling.

Taranjit Singh Tony, a member of the district development council, Suchetgarh, said several shells landed in Devigarh, Bhulechak, Jora Farm and other villages in RS Pura and Arnia sectors.

“Five shells landed in Bhulechak village. The house of one Pawan Kumar was hit but the family luckily survived. There is a lot of fear as a result of which people are moving towards the safe areas,” Tony told The Telegraph.