Jammu, Oct 22 (IANS): Pakistan troops resorted to heavy shelling at Indian positions in R.S. Pura sector of the international border in Jammu district late Monday night.

A senior para military Border Security Force (BSF) officer told IANS that Pakistan troops used 82 millimetre mortars and other heavy weaponry to target our positions in Nikkowal and Abdullian areas of R.S. Pura sector late Monday night.

"The firing started at 9.45 p.m. Monday. We have retaliated strongly to Pakistan shelling. Firing exchanges continued till early morning Tuesday in these areas," the officer said.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is visiting some places along the international border in Jammu region Tuesday along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take stock of the situation.

High tension has gripped residents of border villages as Pakistan rangers have been frequently violating the bilateral ceasefire signed by the two countries in November 2003.

Many villagers close to the Line of Control (LoC) have already left their homes for safer places as they accused Pakistan troops of targeting their homes during trans-border shelling.