Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 12: Pakistani Rangers today opened firing on the forward posts of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Pindi area of Arnia sector when the BSF personnel were engaged in cutting of grown up `sarkanda’ (wild grass) along the International Border for clear vision on other side of the IB to prevent infiltration by the militants.
Reports said the Pakistani Rangers opened firing from their forward New Awaam Post targeting Indian positions near Stop 2 at Border Out Post (BOP) of Pindi in Arnia sector at 8.40 am today targeting the Rangers, who were engaged in cutting grown up `sarkanda’ in the forwards.
“The ceasefire violation by Pakistani Rangers continued for about 15 minutes. The BSF didn’t retaliate,” reports said, adding that there were no reports of any casualties or damage on the Indian side in the firing from across the border.
The jawans of BSF’s 200 battalion deployed in Arnia sector had started cutting grown up `sarkanda’ in forward areas of the IB for clear view of the area following reports that the IB could be used by the militants to infiltrate into this side by taking cover of the wild grass.
The BSF has decided to cut entire wild grass on the IB to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to take its advantage to sneak into this side.
However, reports said, the Pakistani Rangers, who generally gave covering fire to the infiltrating militants, didn’t want wild grass to be cut as this would expose the militants during intrusion bid and the BSF would easily identify them.
The BSF has, meanwhile, sought immediate flag meeting with the Rangers in Arnia sector to lodge protest against unprovoked firing by the Rangers on the BSF jawans this morning.
Sources said the BSF would lodge protest with the Rangers over the ceasefire violation as the BSF personnel were cutting `sarkanda’ within the Indian territory.
It may be mentioned here that few days back also, the BSF had observed movement along the IB in Arnia sector and opened firing to neutralize the militants. There had been reports that groups of militants were camping across the International Border in Arnia, RS Pura, Samba and Ramgarh sectors awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side and carry out the terror attacks.
However, the alert BSF jawans have not allowed the militants to succeed in their designs.
The BSF was maintaining a very high alert all along the International Border in Jammu sector following inputs that the militants could go all out to sneak into this side ahead of Assembly elections, which were scheduled to be held in November-December this year, to carry out the terror attacks.
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