BSF warns Pak: shelling, sniping will be responded very firmly

BSF and Rangers meet at Suchetgarh sector in R S Pura on Friday.
BSF and Rangers meet at Suchetgarh sector in R S Pura on Friday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 29: The Border Security Force (BSF) today warned Pakistani Rangers that their acts of targeting innocent civilians and their property along the International Border in Jammu sector with mortar shelling and firing and sniping of the BSF soldiers were “unacceptable” and “will not be tolerated” and responded with “equal and more measures”.
After the meeting, both sides committed to maintain peace on the International Border, which was prevailing for the past nearly about a week now after heavy mortar shelling and firing for over one week on the International Border of Jammu and Samba districts.
The BSF conveyed the strong protest to Rangers at the Sector Commander level flag meeting, held at the request of Pakistan, at Suchetgarh sector on the International Border in RS Pura tehsil, today.
Sources told the Excelsior that Pakistani Rangers had requested for the Sector Commander level flag meeting with the BSF after suffering heavy damages, both in terms of casualties and infrastructure, in retaliatory firing by the BSF during heavy exchange of mortar shelling and firing in three Sectors of Arnia, RS Pura and Ramgarh in Jammu and Samba districts that continued for almost one week. However, during the past about a week, the International Border was calm.
Sources said: “during the flag meeting that was held from 11am to 12.45 pm, the BSF strongly objected to dastardly acts of sniping of two BSF jawans Brijendra Bahadur and KK Appa Rao when they were performing duty at forward border posts, close to border security fence, by the Pakistani Rangers.
“The BSF also took strong notice of unprovoked mortar shelling and firing by the Rangers on a number of Indian border villages targeting innocent civilians and their properties. The BSF conveyed strong protest to Rangers with message that such provocative acts will not be tolerated. Such acts are completely unacceptable and will be responded with equal and more measures”.
Sources said during detailed discussions in the flag meeting, Pakistan Rangers assured that they would take required measures to maintain peace at border with request that the BSF should also exercise restrain as much as possible in counter measures to see that “minimum civilian loss” is caused on Pakistan side.
“The meeting decided to re-energize instant communication between Field Commanders, whenever required, to resolve the normal issues,” sources said, adding that the meeting was held in cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and both sides agreed for expeditious implementation of the decisions taken in the earlier meeting.
The BSF and Rangers committed to each other to maintain peace and tranquility on the International Border, sources said.
According to sources, this was the first Sector Commander level flag meeting on request of Pakistani Rangers between two border guarding forces after heavy mortar shelling and firing at Arnia, RS Pura and Ramgarh sectors. The BSF had given calibrated response to Pakistan and inflicted heavy damages on the enemy troops.
During the period of firing and shelling, BSF also foiled  successfully a number of infiltration attempts from Pakistan soil including killing of one intruder in Arnia sector, sources said, adding that last meeting of BSF and Rangers at the Sector Commander level was held on March 9 this year.
The BSF delegation in the meeting comprise 17 officers led by PS Dhiman, DIG BSF Jammu Sector while Pakistan delegation was led by Brigadier Amjad Hussain, Sector commander, Chenab Rangers, Sialkot. Pakistan delegation included 14 officers, three of them Wing Commanders.
It may be mentioned here that a BSF jawan and a woman were killed while nearly 15 civilians injured in Pakistan shelling and firing. Apart from this, several cattle had perished in the shelling and many houses were damaged. The damage on Pakistan side was very high, sources said pointing out that this was evident from the fact that Pakistan was forced to stop shelling and firing in view of heavy retaliation by the BSF.

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