India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner to India Syed Haider Shah and lodged a “strong protest” at the loss of life of an 8-month-old infant in unprovoked shelling by Pakistan in Bhimber sector across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Syed Haider Shah was summoned today and strong protest was lodged at the loss of life of a eight-month-old infant in unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces on May 21, 2018, in Bhimber sector across the Line of Control in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

“It was conveyed that the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, who are located away from the forward line of defences, by Pakistan forces using small arms and high calibre weapons is highly deplorable and condemned in the strongest terms,” the statement said.

“Targeting of innocent civilians including young children is against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. Pakistan authorities were called upon to investigate into such heinous acts of killing innocent civilians and instruct its forces to desist from such acts immediately.”

On 19 May, Pakistani Rangers fired automatic weapons and mortar shells at BSF positions and civilian areas along the International Border in J-K, injuring nine persons including the 8-month-old infant who died on 21 May. The incident took place a day after the Pakistani Rangers called up BSF officers and urged them to stop firing. The BSF had resorted to firing on Pakistani positions in retaliation, inflicting severe damage, following which Pakistan had approached the force.

The Pakistan mortar shelling hit a police station at Arnia sector in which special police officer Gurcharan Singh sustained splinter injuries. The splinters of the mortar damaged the vehicle parked at the police station. Some damage was also caused to the police station. The casualty was reported from Jammu where the baby was fatally hit by a stray bullet inside his house at Seri Palai village in Palanwala.

A BSF official said Pakistani troops breached the border ceasefire in Ramgarh and Arnia sectors in the night using automatic weapons and mortars to target both BSF positions and civilian areas. The BSF men guarding the International Border also returned the fire using similar calibre weapons.

Ceasefire violations by Pakistan Rangers have claimed 12 lives in Jammu province in the last 10 days, forcing more than 80,000 residents from about 140 villages along the International Border to leave for safer places. A warlike situation has been created, with the Pakistani troops indiscriminately pounding the border villages, damaging residential houses and killing cattleheads too.

(With inputs from agencies)