DHANDE VILLAGE - Two rocket shells were fired from across the border into Punjab’s Dhande village on Saturday night.

The rocket shells fell in the paddy fields of the village, located near the Pakistan border.

One of the injured Dilbagh Singh, who sustained injuries from shells, said the blast could have proved quite devastating had it hit the village’ residential area instead of paddy fields.

“We saw a bomb coming towards us from the other side (Pakistan border). We initially presumed it to be a plane. But it landed directly into the wet fields and blasted. The splinters, which came out of it, injured me on the leg. We still feel fortunate that it got blasted into the field or else the village could have been destroyed,” said Dilbagh Singh, the injured.

Senior BSF, Army and police officials reached the spot soon after the incident. The tailpiece of the rocket had a 07R marking.

Villagers are now in a state of fear after the incident and want the government to take a serious look into the matter.

“This attack would have caused a major destruction in the village. We, therefore, want the government to take serious steps to protect our village,” Sukhwinder Kaur, a villager.

Meanwhile, Border Security Force Inspector General (IG), Frontier, Himmat Singh in the State’s Jalandhar city said that that they had held a Commandant meeting with Pak Rangers last night.

“The blasts were very powerful. We held the commandant level meeting at night with Pakistan Rangers and have conveyed our strong protest. We have told them to investigate the matter and try the culprits according to law,” said Himmat Singh.he incident has posed a threat to the safety of visitors, who visit Attari land border to witness the daily Beating Retreat ceremony, which is on the Zero line. Dhande village is about two kilometres ahead of it.

Source said, a third blast also took place at Village Pul Kanjri, close to international border between India and Pakistan. But it is yet to be confirmed by the security officials.

Military experts say, had the two blasts occurred in residential area it could have been a seriously damaging incident. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)