Jammu: In the second ceasefire violation in the past 24 hours, Pakistani Rangers on Wednesday fired on a BSF patrol party along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing a jawan and injuring another.
There was heavy firing by Pakistan on a patrolling party of BSF along IB in Suchtegarh forward belt in Samba sector, Inspector General, BSF, Jammu Frontier, Rakesh Sharma was quoted as saying by the PTI.
The Border Security Force (BSF), however, retaliated heavily to firing from the Pakistani side. Sources claimed that four Pakistan soldiers have also been killed in the retaliatory firing by the BSF. Firing is still on in the area, the sources added.
However, after the violation Pakistan called for ceasefire at Samba sector while holding meeting with the Indian side, say reports.
Meanwhile, Lt General Subrata Saha today warned that at least 150-170 militants trained in Pakistan are waiting to cross into the Indian side of the border. Lt Gen Saha said that heavy snowfall and inclement weather in the region is further aiding these militants to slip into the Indian side.
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had yesterday asked the security forces to give a befitting reply to unprovoked firing from the Pakistan side.
Reacting to reports of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector, Parrikar said that India should not hold back and retaliate double.
"The numbers of ceasefire violations across LoC have reduced as compared to last year, but they have increased across international border. I say don't hesitate, but react appropriately without holding back; retaliate double," Parrikar said.
There have been several ceasefire violations by Pakistan in recent days and this was fifth case in the past week.
"Pakistan troops resorted to firing on forward posts along LoC in Pallanwala sector of Jammu district around late Tuesday afternoon," a defence spokesperson was quoted as saying by the ANI.
Sepoy Amarjeet Singh was injured in the firing. He has been hospitalised. "Indian troops guarding the LoC gave a befitting reply to to Pakistani firing," the spokesperson said.
Pakistani troops had Sunday violated the ceasefire twice along the border in Arnia forward belt of Jammu and Hiranagar belt of Kathua district.
On December 25, Pakistani Rangers indulged in unprovoked small arms firing in forward areas in Pansar border out post (BoP) belt of Hiranagar sub-sector in Kathua district.
A day earlier, on December 24, Pakistani troops had fired mortar shells and small arms targeting the same areas.
As per a government report, fourteen civilians and five security personnel were killed in 555 ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces this year in Jammu and Kashmir.
The largest number of 405 violations took place along the international border that is under the operational control of the Border Security Force (BSF), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier told Parliament.
Of these, 344 violations were reported from the Jammu sector and 61 from the Indreshwar-Nagar sector, the minister said in the Rajya Sabha.
The 405 violations along the international border were a steep rise from the 148 ceasefire breaches in 2013 and just 11 and 21 in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Similar violations this year along the Line of Control (LoC) and the section of the international border controlled by the army stood at 150, the minister said. This was a slight drop from the 199 violations of 2013. The figures were 51 in 2011 and 93 in 2012.
The minister said 14 civilians and five security personnel were killed in the Pakistani firing this year till Nov 30. There were no deaths of civilians in 2011 and 2013 while four civilians died in 2012.
The number of security personnel killed on the border in cross-border firing and other tactical incidents was five in 2011 and 2012 each and 12 in 2013, Parrikar said.
(With Agency inputs)
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