Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 16: Tension escalated on the International Border (IB) with Pakistani Rangers again resorting to heavy firing on Indian positions at forward village of Abdullian in RS Pura sector killing a jawan of the Border Security Force (BSF) and triggering panic among the people living in forward areas.
This was sixth ceasefire violation by the Rangers on the IB after detection of a tunnel dug by Pakistan authorities in the Indian territory at forward village of Chechwal in Samba sector in the evening of July 27 and third during past three days.
This was fourth casualty on the BSF side, first fatal, in six incidents of firing on the IB in which three BSF jawans have also been injured (two at Pansar and one in Arnia).
Official sources said the Rangers opened firing at Abdullian in RS Pura sector at 7.30 pm today. Heavy firing continued for about an hour after which intermittent exchange of firing continued till late tonight. The BSF jawans retaliated to counter the Pakistani firing and silence their guns. The deceased BSF jawan has been identified as Chander Narayan of BSF. His body was shifted to GMC Jammu tonight.
Sources said panic gripped the forward village of Abdullian and its adjoining areas after heavy firing by the Rangers. The people said it was after a long time that they have seen such a heavy firing from across the border.
Some of the people took shelter in safer areas temporarily as they were either working in the fields or returning to their houses after day’s cultivation.
Yesterday also, the Rangers had opened heavy firing in forward village of Pansar in Samba sector, creating panic among the people of forward villages. Over a dozen people were trapped in the firing as they had gone to cultivate their land on Zero Line. The panic-stricken people in Pansar had been persuaded by the civil and police administration not to leave their houses.
Pakistani Rangers had resorted to firing and ceasefire violations six times on the IB including thrice in Arnia, twice in Pansar and for the first time today in Abdullian in RS Pura sector.
The Rangers have activated the IB after facing embarrassment at the international level for digging tunnel from Pakistan about 540 meters deep inside the Indian territory at Chechwal, Samba.
Four to five incidents of firing and ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army have also been reported from the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati and Poonch sectors during past fortnight.
The latest incident of firing from Pakistan side was reported from Krishna Ghati sector last night.
Meanwhile, India today lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the ceasefire violation along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district last night.
“We have lodged a strong protest over the firing on Indian forward post and ceasefire violation in Krishna Ghati belt of Poonch sector with Pakistan counterparts through hotline today,” sources said.
There were eight ceasefire violation and firing incidents in past fortnight.
So far, there have been 31 ceasefire violations this year followed by 51 cases in 2011, 44 cases of ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir were registered in 2010 and 28 were in 2009.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel