Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 13: Within hours after BSF and Rangers signed an agreement to maintain peace and tranquility on the borders and decided not to resort to mortar firing, the Pakistan army directly targeted the BSF posts with mortar firing and automatic weapons on the Line of Control (LoC) in Gambhir sector of Manjakote in Rajouri district killing a BSF officer. The Pakistani Rangers also violated ceasefire in Samba sector along the International Border (IB) last night while a Special Police Officer (SPO) and a civilian were injured in mortar shell explosion in Sabzian sector of Poonch district.
“The Rangers directly targeted forward BSF posts in Gambhir sector of Manjakote area in the border district of Rajouri, bordering Balakote sector of Poonch at 6.20 pm today using mortar shells and bursts of automatic weapons, killing BSF Assistant Sub Inspector Sohan Lal,” official sources told the Excelsior.
Nearly half a dozen BSF posts were targeted by the Pakistan army with mortars and automatic weapons in Gambhir area of Manjakote sector this evening. The Pakistan army’s firing targeting forward BSF posts on the LoC in Manjakote sector, bordering Balakote, came a day after Pakistani Rangers signed 20 point Joint Record of Discussion’ with BSF after four-days talks in New Delhi agreeing to maintain ceasefire, peace and tranquility on the border and ‘no use of mortar shells’.
However, Pakistan violated the agreement within a day of signing it and intentionally targeted forward BSF posts, which is deployed in second line on the LoC, behind Army, by firing mortars and bursts of automatic weapons, sources said, adding that one of the BSF picket was directly hit by the bursts in Gambhir sector of Manjakote along the LoC in which BSF ASI Sohan Lal was seriously injured.
The Army and BSF jawans immediately evacuated the injured jawan and shifted him to hospital but he succumbed to his injuries enroute. Sohan Lal, a resident of Sikar, Rajasthan, was manning the forward BSF post and was directly hit by the bursts. He attained martyrdom in the process. His body has been kept in the hospital and will be sent to his residence with full military honours after homage.
Army spokesman and PRO MoD Lt Col Manish Mehta said a BSF officer was killed when Pakistan army directly fired bursts on the BSF post. He said the Army didn’t retaliate immediately.
Two BSF jawans were reported to have sustained superficial injuries in the post.
Reacting to violation of agreement by Pakistan after signing it yesterday in New Delhi, former Chief Minister and National Conferene working president Omar Abdullah tweeted: “what happened to Pakistan agreeing to not use mortars”?
“Wasn’t that a take away from the DG level talks”? he further asked. He offered condolences to the family of BSF jawan and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
Though ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army on the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri were routine, today’s violation came hardly after the ink of pact signed between BSF and Rangers had dried. More serious was intentional and direct targeting of the BSF posts by the Pakistan army, which was aimed at causing casualties of the BSF.
During his meeting with the Rangers in New Delhi on the sidelines of the talks, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had categorically stated that India will not open the first fire on the borders. While India stuck to its decision, Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement.
Sources admitted that though the Army and BSF didn’t retaliate the firing, they were maintaining high alert along the borders as Pakistan could try to facilitate the infiltration attempts under the cover of firing.
Sources said India was expected to lodge strong protest with Pakistan over violation of the agreement. Though it was the DG Rangers, who had signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan, it was the BSF, which had signed the agreement but was targeted directly by the Pakistan army.
Meanwhile, two persons including a SPO and a civilian were injured in suspected mortar shell explosion in Gagrian area of Sabzian sector, close to the LoC, in Poonch district this evening.
SSP Poonch Jatinder Singh Johar said the SPO and the civilian reportedly fiddled with the shell, leading to blast causing injuries to the SPO and the civilian. They have been identified as Mehraj Din, Special Police Officer (SPO) and Mohammad Sikandar, a civilian hailing from Gagrian.
Army, however, said nature of the blast was being investigated.
It may be mentioned here that Sabzian sector had witnessed heavy shelling by Pakistan recently.
Injured SPO and civilian were immediately shifted to hospital from where the SPO was referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu as he had sustained serious injuries on his hand.
Police parties rushed to the spot and collected splinters of the shell for examination.
Meanwhile, the Rangers also violated ceasefire by firing three rounds towards the Indian positions in Regal area of Samba sector along the International Border last night.
Confirming the firing, sources said the forward post of Rangers fired three rounds towards the forward Indian posts of the BSF in Regal area of Samba sector at 11.15 pm last night.
The Indian side retaliated by firing four rounds and one para bomb to lit up the area to thwart any infiltration attempt.
There were no casualties or damage on the Indian side in the firing,” sources said.
They downplayed the incident saying it was just isolated incident of firing.
Only yesterday, BSF and Rangers during their DG level talks in New Delhi had signed an agreement to maintain peace and tranquility on the borders and maintain November 2003 ceasefire agreement.
However, there was no official version from the BSF on the firing.
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