Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 6: The Pakistani Rangers today resorted to firing again on the International Border at Khwara in Samba sector when the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were cleaning grown up grass on the International Border.
This was third incident of firing at Khwara, the last post of Samba sector, bordering Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. The Rangers have also violated ceasefire four times in Chechwal area of Samba sector.
Official sources said the Rangers started firing at 8 am targeting the BSF jawans, who were engaged in cleaning grown up grass along the International Border. The Rangers continued firing for about 10 minutes till the BSF jawans retaliated from this side.
Exchange of firing lasted few minutes, sources said, adding that there was no casualty or damage on Indian side in firing by the Rangers.
The BSF had been cleaning grass, which had grown up due to Monsoon rains, to have a better glimpse of the area across the border to thwart any infiltration attempt by the militants. This was not liked by the Rangers as they might be plotting to push militants into this side under the garb of grown up grass, sources said, adding that the BSF has succeeded in cutting most of the grass from the forward areas.
Firing by the Rangers triggered panic among the people putting up in forward areas. The people in adjoining areas of Chechwal in Samba sector have also been reeling under panic following five incidents of firing by the Rangers after detection of the tunnel dug by Pakistani authorities inside the Indian territory.
The BSF has already been maintaining a very high alert along the IB in Samba sector in view of direct firing on civilians by the Rangers in which a couple, working in the fields in forward area of Chechwal, was injured.
Meanwhile, people in Chechwal stayed away from their fields for past more than a week ever since the couple was injured in the firing. The people were not going to the fields fearing that the Rangers might again open firing on them.
The people said they were waiting for holding of a flag meeting between top officials of BSF and Rangers to resolve the matter before working in the fields again. They wanted that the meeting should be convened at the earliest.
The people were of the view that any further delay in the meeting could destroy their grown up crops.
A similar situation had developed in June this year in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch along the LoC when Pakistan violated the ceasefire five times by opening heavy small arms firing and rocket attacks on Indian posts in Poonch sector in which two jawans were killed and four others injured.
There were five ceasefire violations between June 11 and 16 this year along the LoC in Poonch sector.
Finally, the Brigade Commanders flag meeting was held on June 23 at Chakan-Da-Bagh LoC point in Poonch sector to bring a halt to the Pakistan firing and peace along the border line.
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