BSF lodges protest with Pakistan over ceasefire violations

JAMMU: Following an infiltration bid in the morning on Saturday and ceasefire violations over the last 24 hours, BSF on Saturday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Rangers over the incidents along the International Border (IB) in Jammu.

The protest was lodged by BSF through a communication via the forward post at Kulian-Suchetpur along IB in Samba district today after the Pakistani side earlier failed to respond to a call for a flag meeting, a BSF officer said.

"We have lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Rangers over the ceasefire violations and the infiltration attempt today," he added.

BSF troops had today morning observed suspicious movement along IB near Kulian-Suchetpur outpost. They had challenged the suspected infiltrators and then opened fire, killing one of them, they said.

Pakistani troops, however, denied having a hand in the infiltration attempt.

The Rangers had been called for a meeting on IB at the Kulian-Suchetpur forward post, but they failed to turn up for the same even after BSF officials had waited for two hours at the 'Zero-Line', he said.

Pakistan troops pounded Indian forward posts and civilian areas with 82-mm mortar shells and also resorted to firing across IB in Jammu, leading to injuries to two BSF jawans.

At least 14 Indian forward posts and civilian areas on this side of the border in RS Pura, Pargwal, Samba, Hiranagar and Jagnockah in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts were subjected to firing during the night, police said.

The two BSF jawans sustained minor splinter injuries in the Nikowal area in Jammu belt. They were said to be out of danger. BSF troops had retaliated effectively to the firing last night before it finally ceased this morning, police said.

With the injuries to the two jawans, the total number of the injured as a result of Pakistani firing in the past 24 hours has risen to nine, including five civilians.

Against the backdrop of increased ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is to visit the forward areas along IB on October 22 to review the situation.