BSF kills 15 Pakistan Rangers in retaliatory firing

JAMMU: BSF on Friday said it had killed 15 Pakistani paramilitary personnel while retaliating to cross-border shelling and firing in which two Indian civilians were killed and two injured in Jammu region.

Firing mortar shells and using automatic weapons, Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas and forward security posts along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

BSF said as per the ammunition used in firing and shelling, it appeared that Pakistani Army is supporting its paramilitary Rangers along the IB.

In retaliatory firing, 15 Pakistani rangers have been killed so far, BSF said. “At 1720 hour on Thursday, Pakistan Rangers started unprovoked heavy firing and shelling in Kathua Sector of Jammu which further spread to Hiranagar and Samba. It continued till 0500 hours on Friday in the area of 24 BSF posts,” a senior BSF officer said.

BSF Additional Director General Arun Kumar said a befitting reply was being given to the Pakistani shelling and firing. “Fifteen Pakistani soliders have been killed in retaliatory firing and shelling by BSF. We have destroyed their OP (outposts) and damaged a few,” Kumar said.

“In the Pakistani shelling, one civilian died in Khour belt of Pallanwala sector,” Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said, adding another civilian was injured in RS Pura sector.

One woman Usma Bi, aged 50 years, was killed in shelling by Pakistan on Gohlad village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district on Friday, Defence spokesperson said.

Another civilian was injured in area, the reports said. After a lull of few hours, Pakistani Rangers resorted to ceasefire violation in Abdullian belt of RS Pura sector, the Jammu DC said.

“There was unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Noushera, Sunderbani and Pallanwala sectors of Rajouri and Jammu districts today,” Defence spokesperson said.