Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 26: As guns fall silent along the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri after nearly three and half months of intense mortar shelling and firing between Indo-Pak troops, the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector has been activated by Pakistan, where the BSF today retaliated effectively to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors and gunned down at least three Rangers.
Sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan Rangers resorted to firing and shelling at Pargwal in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district and village Dewra in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district this afternoon. At both the places, the BSF jawans retaliated firing and shelling very effectively.
At Dewra, Sunderbani, Pakistan fired four mortar shells of 51mm and two mortar shells of 81/82mm, which exploded with bangs while at Pargwal, Akhnoor, they tried to hit the BSF jawans with sniper shots and target their forward posts.
The BSF jawans, who were maintaining high alert all along the International Border after yesterday’s sniping incident in which BSF jawan KK Appa Rao was injured at Arnia sector of Samba district, gunned down three Pakistani Rangers in the retaliatory firing.
Heavy exchanges of firing and shelling continued for some time, sources said.
BSF didn’t suffer any casualties or damages at both the places.
Sources said the Rangers initially opened firing on the BSF personnel at Pargwal in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district with an intention to cause casualties of the security personnel. However, the BSF jawans, who were maintaining high alert all along the International Border, immediately retaliated.
Later, they tried to target the BSF jawans and their posts at forward area of Dewra in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district.
Pakistani ambulances could be seen shifting the dead Rangers to hospital after their evacuation from the forward posts. Sources said the Indian side retaliated effectively to silence the Pakistani guns and avoid casualties or damages on own side.
According to sources, Pakistan was determined to keep the pot boiling. After getting befitting reply from Army on the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts, it was now trying to activate the International Border also.
“There were specific inputs that groups of militants had gathered across the International Border on Pakistani side with a view to infiltrate into the Indian territory and carry out terror attack on security installations,” sources said and didn’t rule out that Pakistani firing was aimed at giving cover to the infiltrators.
Only a day before, Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir had visited the International Border (IB) to review situation after which he had declared that the militants, who tried to breach the border, will be killed.
Yesterday, a BSF jawan was injured in a sniping incident by Pakistani Rangers along the International Border in Arnia sector.
KK Appa Rao was manning an Observatory Post in forward area of Arnia sector when he was hit by a sniper shot fired by the Pakistani Rangers at 12 noon.
The ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the International Border were very rare these days though they had been quite common on the Line of Control.
Significantly, on July 17, the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers had held a Commandant-level flag meeting in Samba sector along the International Border and “committed” themselves to maintaining peace.
In the flag meeting, the two sides had agreed to re- energize instant communication between field commanders, whenever required, to resolve petty matters.
Three days back, senior Army Commanders of India and Pakistan also held a flag meeting on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector and agreed to institute mechanisms for durable peace and tranquility on the border.
The year 2017 has seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Till August 1, there were 285 such violations by the Pakistan army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to the Army figures.
Eleven people, including 9 soldiers, were killed and 18 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan army in the month of July, the Army data said.
There were 83 ceasefire violations, one BAT (Border Action Team) attack and two infiltration bids from the Pakistani side in June in which 4 people, including 3 jawans, were killed and 12 injured.
In May, there were 79 ceasefire violations, according to officials.
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