* Several villagers trapped in fields for hours
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 16: Reviving hostilities along the International Border after a long time, the first after takeover of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre, the Pakistani Rangers today resorted to indiscriminate firing on the BSF posts and civilian areas in Arnia sector killing a BSF jawan and injuring seven others including three security personnel and four civilians.
Several civilians, who were working in their fields in the forward areas at Pittal, Pindi, Kaku De Kothe and adjoining areas of Arnia sector, were trapped in the Pakistan firing for more than couple of hours and reached to safety only after the firing stopped.
This was second major incident on the borders after Modi Government took charge, the first being on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector of Poonch district in which an Army jawan was killed and five others were injured in an IED blast, which was reportedly triggered from across the LoC with a remote control. Today’s incident was first major on the IB in the new Government.
The first spell of firing by the Rangers took place from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm while in the second spell they opened firing at Nikowal and Treva areas of Arnia from 4.30 pm to 5.15 pm. There were no casualties or damage in second round of firing.
However, the intermittent firing from Pakistan side continued till late tonight.
Official sources and eyewitnesses told the Excelsior that the Pakistani Rangers started firing from their South Jarwa Post at 11.30 am with a sniper shot hitting BSF’s Observation Tower at Pittal Post of Arnia sector causing serious injuries to BSF 192 battalion jawan Som Raj. Two BSF jawans ASI Madan Lal and constable Sanjay Dhar went to evacuate Som Raj but the Rangers resorted to more firing causing serious injuries to both of them.
Inspector Madan Lal, who led another team to the spot, was also hit by the bullet and got injured.
The BSF jawans took positions and retaliated.
The Rangers also targeted the civilians working in the fields in forwards villages of Pittal, Pindi, Kaku De Kothe and surroundings in Arnia sector. Even a bullet fired by the Rangers hit a civilian inside Arnia town in Ward No. 13 causing him a bullet wound at his thigh, leading to panic in entire Arnia town and the border villages.
Three Bihari labourers, who had been hired by the locals for cultivation of crops, were also hit by the bullets and got injured.
Several civilians were trapped in their fields during the firing. They lied down in the villages to survive the firing and remained held up in the field for couple of hours till the guns of the Rangers were silenced with effective retaliation given by the BSF.
Exchange of firing in which small and heavy arms were used by both sides continued till 1.30 pm.
Senior BSF officers rushed to the spot. All eight injured including four BSF jawans and four civilians were evacuated from the site of firing and shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, where seriously injured BSF jawan Sanjay Dhar succumbed to his injuries.
Other injured have been identified as Inspector Madan Lal, ASI Madan Lal and constable Som Raj, all belonging to 192 battalion of BSF and Jaiwan Mandal, 25, son of Chui Mandal, Jai Nandan Mandal, 22, son of Vidya Nandan and Jatta Nandan, 24, son of Vidya Nandan, all Bihari labourers and Mukesh Kumar son of Jara Singh, a resident of Ward No. 13, Arnia.
All the injured were responding to the treatment in the GMC Jammu.
Sources said the BSF jawans not only fired at the BSF posts but directly targeted the civilians working in the fields. They added that the Rangers didn’t want the people to cultivate the crops as it would stop growth of `sarkanda’ (wild grass) giving the BSF a clear view of the International Border and thwarting plans of the Rangers to push infiltrators into this side.
“This was one of the reasons that the Rangers wanted to create scare in the minds of villagers to prevent them from cultivating the rice crop. If the crop was sown, there would be no growth of `sarkanda’, which would hamper the Pakistan plan to push militants into this side under the cover of wild grown up grass,” sources said.
Only yesterday, the BSF and Rangers had held a flag meeting at Chambliyal forward post in Ramgarh sector in which the BSF had lodged protest over two incidents of firing on the BSF posts.
Sources pointed out that the Rangers appeared determined to give cover to the infiltrators ahead of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which was the reason that they wanted to stop cultivation of crops and keep `sarkanda’ grown up.
Meanwhile, BSF, police and civil officers visited the site of firing and the GMC Jammu for investigations and inquire condition of the injured. Body of martyr Rajesh Dhar has been shifted to the BSF headquarters and would be sent to his native town in West Bengal tomorrow morning with full honours and tributes.
The Pakistani firing reminded the border villagers of September 2013 heavy firing and shelling along the International Border right from Hiranagar to Pargwal in Akhnoor in which several BSF jawans and civilians had been injured. The BSF had retaliated effectively forcing the Rangers for flag meeting in October after which the hostilities ceased.
There was panic among the villagers after today’s heavy firing by the Rangers as they feared that the season of crop could be spoiled if the firing continued. Today also, several villagers had miraculous escape in the firing as they remained trapped in the villages for couple of hours.
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