Jammu, Aug 24 (IANS): The Pakistan Rangers Sunday continued to use long range weapons to target the Border Security Force (BSF) posts and villages in R.S. Pura and Arnia areas near the international border in Jammu district, police said.

"Pakistan rangers used long range weapons to target almost all the BSF border outposts in R.S. Pura and Arnia in addition to villages close to the border in these areas," a senior police officer told IANS.

"Pakistan firing started at 10 p.m. last night and continued intermittently during the night. They fired at 12 BSF outposts in R.S.Pura and 10 in Arnia sectors," he added.

"Since Pakistan rangers are using long range weapons, 28 villages in these areas are directly in the line of Pakistan fire."

"BSF troops are effectively retaliating and intermittent firing is still on," he said.

Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu said the administration is prepared to accommodate at safer places possible migrants from border villages in these areas.

"We are ready to meet any eventuality. Our contingency plans are in place to provide all possible relief to people who might move out of their villages if tensions escalate," the official said.

Although the state government says only 1,000 villagers have so far moved out to safer accommodations, eye-witnesses in these areas say over 3,000 villagers have taken shelter at safe places out of villages in R.S. Pura and Arnia areas in Jammu.