Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 23: The Border Security Force (BSF) today sent out a clear cut message to Pakistani Rangers that they will have to face October 21 like aggression from India if they indulged in any misadventures on the International Border (IB). It declared that the BSF was prepared to meet any kind of challenges on the borders.
Speaking to media persons after wreath laying ceremony of BSF constable Gurnam Singh of RS Pura, who succumbed to his injuries last night after being hit by sniper shot fired by the Rangers in the morning of October 21, at BSF Paloura Headquarters, Additional DG BSF, Western Command, Arun Kumar said: “Pakistan must understand that it will have to face Friday like situation again when BSF had gunned down seven Rangers and one terrorist after sniper shot attack on Gurnam Singh”.
Saying that the BSF has taken the revenge of the killing of Gurnam Singh by gunning down seven Pakistani Rangers and a terrorist immediately after injuries caused to Gurnam, Kumar warned that the Rangers will have to face similar situation again if they indulge in any kind of misadventure on the borders.
“They (the Rangers) will have to face the music,” Kumar, who had specially reached here last evening from Chandigarh, said, adding that BSF was not going to show any leniency with the Rangers. We will retaliate very aggressively.
“If our one jawan is hit, we will repeat October 21 like attack,” he said in a clear message to the Rangers.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today offered his condolences to the heartbroken family of BSF jawan Gurnam Singh saying that the martyr soldier had given a shining example of sheer bravery.
“I am saddened by the demise of BSF jawan Gurnam Singh. He has given an example of bravery on the border and gave his life for the nation. I laud the sheer bravery and sacrifice of Gurnam Singh and offer my condolences to his grieving family,” Rajnath said in two tweets before leaving for Bahrain, a Gulf nation, on three-day tour, where he is scheduled to highlight Pakistan backed terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rajnath Singh has already asked the BSF not to fire first shot on the borders, but if fired upon, then don’t count the bullets in retaliation.
Replying to a question on the BSF killing seven Rangers and one terrorist on Friday, BSF Additional DG said they have technical surveillance system in place and their asserting was based on very credible and authentic inputs.
“We have our system with which, we can keep watch on other side of the International Border. We have our mechanism. We are sure that seven Rangers and one terrorist were killed in BSF’s retaliatory firing after sniping attack on Gurnam Singh,” he said.
Warning that the 24-hour long lull on the border can be “lull before the storm” and could take “any turn any time”, Kumar said the BSF was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality arising out of border build-up by the Pakistani side on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Yes, there is lull on the IB for the past 24 hours. We have no doubt that this peace can take any turn any time and we are fully prepared for that,” he said, adding if the Rangers try to do anything, they will be given a befitting reply. The BSF is fully prepared for that.
In the wake of reports of a border build-up by Pakistani troops across the IB, Kumar said BSF has the information and it was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.
“I think we are having the information, we are ready for any eventuality and if they are building up we are ready for it”, he said.
Maintaining that the infiltration attempt, which was foiled by Gurnam and his other colleagues at Bobiya post in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district on the intervening night of October 19 and 20, had the support of the Pakistan Rangers, Arun Kumar said: “we have seen through our surveillance equipment as how they (Pakistan rangers) had given protection fire to get the people infiltrated into our border and how our men repulsed that”.
It may be mentioned here that tensions had flared up on the borders after the BSF had foiled infiltration attempt by six Pakistani militants at Bobiya, Hiranagar, killing one terrorist and injuring others.
On the Line of Control, Kumar said there have been continuous incidents of ceasefire violations and BSF under the able guidance of the Army are repulsing such incidents.
“But this was for the first incident after the Uri attack, that the militants have tried to infiltrate through the international boundary and we gave them a befitting reply”, he said.
He said that on the intervening night of October 19 and 20, Pakistan tried to push in some terrorists using fire power and the same was given a befitting reply by the alert BSF jawans led by Gurnam Singh because of which the infiltration bid was foiled and one terrorist was killed.
“The next day sniping was done from the Pakistani side on the same place where Gurnam Singh was standing and he was targeted and the bullet hit him in the head, we wanted to evacuate him, but because of heavy fire we faced some problems.
“We retaliated and shifted him to GMC&H and every possible treatment was given to him and air ambulance was also kept ready to shift him, but sadly we lost him during the night”, Kumar said.
He said that Gurnam has made a supreme sacrifice for the nation and the BSF and the entire nation was proud of him.
“The BSF was planning to shift him to Delhi and Air ambulance was kept ready for that, but Gurnam breathed his last night,” he said.
Kumar said the BSF will recommend the name of Gurnam Singh for the highest gallantry award posthumously.
Twenty-six-old Gurnam was a bachelor.
Asked if Gurnam’s name would be recommended for the highest gallantry award, Kumar said: “absolutely the gallantry award would be a lesser possible award for him as he deserves much more …But we will be recommending for that”.
Ashok Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award.
“Gurnam was instrumental in foiling a major infiltration bid by the heavily armed terrorists. He was made target the next day. With his supreme sacrifice, he has made not only the BSF but the whole nation proud,” Kumar said.
The BSF today paid rich tributes to Gurnam Singh, who succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Jammu after he was injured in a sniping incident on the International Border in Kathua sector on Friday.
Today, wreath laying ceremony of Gurnam Singh was held at BSF Frontier Headquarters at Paloura. Rich tributes were paid to him and wreaths laid on body of the martyr by Arun Kumar, ADG Western Command BSF, D K Upadhyaya, IG BSF Jammu, Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga, Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh, Dr Devender Kumar, MLA Samba, Dr Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Danesh Rana, IGP Jammu along with BSF officers and other jawans,
On the occasion, Arun Kumar, ADG BSF said that BSF has the history of bravery and this brave act has once again shown that BSF soldiers are always ready to sacrifice their life for the nation.
He further said that his sacrifice shall be remembered forever.
Cremation of martyr jawan will be held at his native village Balesar, in RS Pura tehsil at 10 am tomorrow.
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