Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 6: Even as the International Border in tense Hiranagar and Samba sectors remained by and large peaceful, mortar shells continued to land intermittently in the forward areas as number of the migrants touched 10,300 in the relief camps set up in Samba and Kathua districts while Director General (DG) BSF D K Pathak today visited forwards posts in the two sectors to boost morale of the jawans.
Official sources told the Excelsior that intermittent shelling and small arms firing continued at various forward posts on the IB in Hiranagar and Samba sectors overnight and during the day today.
“As Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of security forces was defusing a live mortar shell at village Chandre Chak in Hiranagar sector at 6.30 pm today, another powerful mortar shell, fired by Pakistan Rangers, landed close to the BDS team and exploded in a field. The BDS team and police personnel had narrow escape in the explosion. The live shell was defused safely,’’ sources said.
The shells continued to land intermittently overnight in Hiranagar and Samba sectors but there were no casualties or damage. However, there was no continuous firing or shelling on the IB, sources said, adding that the BSF was responding effectively.
At Thakru Chak in Bobiya area of Hiranagar, the Rangers resorted to indiscriminate firing for about 15 minutes. The Rangers also targeted some BSF posts. The jawans retaliated.
At About 8 pm today, the Rangers resorted to heavy firing at Pansar and Manyari in Hiranagar sector. The BSF fired back, leading to exchanges for about half an hour.
BSF chief DK Pathak, who flew in here today from New Delhi, visited forward areas of Hiranagar and Samba sectors, inter-acted with Sector Commanders and BSF jawans and boosted their morale. Accompanied by IG BSF, Jammu Frontiers, Rakesh Sharma, Pathak lauded extreme courage displayed by the jawans on the borders in giving strong response to Pakistan shelling and firing.
He called upon the BSF jawans to continue to give effective reply to the Rangers and thwart their designs of pushing militants inside the Indian territory under the cover of shelling and firing. He also visited Headquarters of 9 BSF at Khwara in Samba sector.
Earlier, Pathak visited BSF Headquarters at Paloura and laid wreath on the body of martyr BSF jawan Devender Singh, who was killed in Pakistan shelling at Khawara post.
Speaking to reporters at the BSF Headquarters, Pathak said Pakistani troops were not accepting protest notes from India over ceasefire violations resulting in “no communication” between the two sides.
Pathak asserted that India wants peace along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir but will retaliate strongly if fired upon. “We will retaliate effectively if Pakistan didn’t mend its ways. The directions have been passed to the jawans to act tough with Pakistan,’’ he said.
“The last communication regarding flag meeting (to de-escalate the tension) was established on January 1, when Sector Commander of the Rangers and their Nodal Officer spoke to our Nodal Officer and we talked about four-five times. Thereafter there has been no communication”, Pathak said.
“On January 3, when we went to deliver protest note through established mechanism, they refused to accept it. Thereafter, we had a protest note delivered through Wagah border (in Punjab sector). Now, they are not even accepting protest note at Wagah too. Since January 4 onwards, there is no communication”, he said.
On the statement of Pakistan Defence Minister that Pakistan was trying to maintain peace on borders but India is showing tough posture, the BSF chief said he has nothing to comment on the statement.
“But what we can say that what we always want that there should be peace on the borders. That is best situation to happen on the border. We on our side will never do anything to disturb peace on the border, but if anybody disturbs the peace, we will retaliate,’’ Pathak said.
“As I said the prevalence of peace is best situation to happen. But if Pakistan does not want— if Rangers do not want (peace to prevail on IB), what can we do’’? he asked.
“It is not that population of civilians from our side has only been dislodged. In fact the population on there side has also migrated. So it’s not a happy situation. We would like the restoration of normalcy as fast and as soon as possible”, the DG BSF said.
“But I still reiterate that we never initiate the fire. We will definitely respond, when we are fired at and when our civilians are fired at,” he said, adding that it cannot happen one-sided.
Pathak said infiltration bids by militants from across the border are expected to increase with the Republic Day around the corner.
“We have some inputs about the presence of large number of militants across the border waiting to infiltrate,” he said.
“We have a good proof of that. We feel that it could be one of the reasons of the provocation. We are on alert and doing the needful,” he said.
On involvement of outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed in border activities, Pathak said: “Hafiz Saeed could be a factor. But definitely they are present and trying to infiltrate.”
“Since December 31st, we have foiled three to four infiltration attempts,” he said.
Asked about the reason behind firing from across the border, the BSF DG said: “it could have multiple reasons. Infiltration could be one of them. There is a possibility that they are trying to divert public attention from Peshawar incident because they are accountable to their public…. And they were widely criticised.”
“May be it is meant for Republic day which is not far. So there could be many reasons,” he added.
On speculations that Army personnel were occupying the Pakistan Rangers posts, Pathak said: “it is very difficult for us to say anything conclusively. I won’t comment unless I get some confirmed information on that”.
Asked whether BSF was seeking Army’s help on the border, he said: “the question of any other agency getting involved in direct conflict does not arise as of now. We are capable enough to take on them.”
Pakistani troops targeted over 70 hamlets and scores of border posts in heavy overnight shelling in Hiranagar and Samba districts, with mortar bombs landing deep inside Indian territory.
“Our mandate is to protect our force, our civilians, borders and this is what BSF is doing by responding to the cross border firing,” Pathak said.
He asserted that BSF has proof of infiltration attempts from across the border and this could be one of the reasons of the provocation.
“We are alert, watching the situation and whenever, there will be firing or infiltration attempt from across the border, we will do the needful,” he added.
On Border Action Team (BAT) action, the DG BSF said: “it cannot be presumed but they are making all attempts’’.
On Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed’s presence across the border, Pathak said, “We have inputs regarding the presence of a large number of militants across the border waiting to infiltrate and Hafiz Saeed could also be the factor.”
Pathak, however, said things are demonstrated in action but not expressed in words.
Meanwhile, about 1000 more people migrated from border villages in Samba and Hiranagar sectors and took shelter in the relief camps taking total number of the migrants in the past one week to 10,300.
In Samba sector, the migrants from village Bain, Glard, Suchetgarh, Chak Faquira, Kullian and Kamala have been accommodated at Chichi Mata Ji temple, SSP Samba Anil Magotra said, adding that the migrants from village Sadoh and Sadoh camp were lodged at Community Hall, Kalibari.
The migrants from Chachwal, Challarrian and Mangu Chak were camping at Government girls higher secondary school, Rajpura while migrants of village Regal were accommodated at Panchayat Ghar Madoon. The migrants of village Keso have been lodged at Government higher secondary school, Ramgarh.
In Hiranagar sector, the authorities have accommodated migrants from Pansar, Rathua and Kadyala villages in Government higher secondary school, Chadwal while the migrants of Bobiya, Patti, Ladwal, Karol Krishna, Karol Bidho and Karol Kadyala were lodged in Government higher secondary schools of boys and girls at Hiranagar. The people of Chan Lal Din were sheltered at Hariya Chak Middle and Primary Schools and Nagyal Prime School. The migrants from village Sadoh have been lodged in Kalibari Community Centre. Migrants have also been lodged in Banyari school.
Authorities have identified more relief camps in Hiranagar as they were expecting number of the migrants to swell once firing and shelling stopped completely.
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