Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 4: The BSF today foiled an infiltration attempt backed by Pakistani Rangers on the International Border (IB) in Arnia sector of Jammu district by killing one militant as others retreated to Pakistan while cross-LoC travel on Poonch-Rawlakote along Line of Control (LoC) remained suspended for ninth consecutive week due to continued ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
Official sources said alert BSF jawans observed movement of militants in Arnia sector at 3.40 pm when they were trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory taking advantage of Pakistan `bundh’ and tick wild growth. The militants fired towards the BSF posts with a view to push their infiltration.
The BSF jawans immediately challenged the militants and opened firing aiming the direction from where they were trying to intrude into this side. Simultaneously, sources said, the Rangers also violated ceasefire and gave covering fire to the militants in their intrusion bid.
“One of the intruders jumped over the BSF fencing towards Indian side,” sources said, adding the BSF jawans gunned him down within 50 meters of the border fencing. Other militants were reported to have retreated to Pakistan after the killing of their colleague.
Sources said a major planned and forced infiltration attempt of the militants with active support of Pakistani Rangers has been foiled by the BSF on the International Border.
During past few days, Pakistani Rangers have been trying to escalate tensions on the IB on the pattern of LoC. In Arnia sector, the Rangers had fired sniper shot on a BSF jawan in which he was seriously injured but survived. The BSF, in retaliatory action, had gunned down three Rangers opposite Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors.
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Meanwhile, Pakistani troops today again violated ceasefire on the LoC in Digwar and Maldalyan areas of Poonch district. However, the ceasefire violation was confined to small arms fire, sources said, adding the Indian side retaliated.
There was no let up in tensions between India and Pakistan along LoC as cross-LoC travel between two parts of divided States remained suspended for ninth consecutive week today in view of continued ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops including mortar shelling and firing on civilian areas.
“This has also caused doubts over cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route, which too was suspended since July 11,” sources said.
While cross-LoC bus plies every Monday, the trade takes place for four days from Tuesday to Friday between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Bus and trucks, cross to Rawlakote in PoK from Poonch through Chakan-Da-Bagh, which had also come under heavy shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops earlier.
However, cross-LoC travel and trade has been going on through Uri-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir.
It may be mentioned here that the National Investigating Agency (NIA), which has been investigating terror funding and hawala operations through various channels including cross-LoC trade, has already recommended to the Union Home Ministry to stop the trade between two parts of divided State on the ground that it was being misused for terror funding.
Meanwhile, a joint team of Rashtriya Rifles and SOG today recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and other warlike stores from Beri Rakh forest area of Mendhar in Poonch district.
Seizure included one AK-56 rifle, two hand grenades, 12 magazines, 500 plus rounds of ammunition, two rains coats, two water containers and some other items.
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