Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 2: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was injured in mysterious firing on the International Border (IB) at Khwara Post in Samba sector this afternoon while panic still prevailed among the villagers of forward areas of Chechwal, where firing by the Pakistani Rangers had yesterday left a couple injured.
Senior officers of BSF, police and civil administration today visited Chechwal and inter-acted with the villagers. They assured them full protection from the firing by the Rangers.
Official sources said Romesh Chatey, a BSF jawan of 9 battalion was injured in mysterious firing at Khwara Post in Samba sector. Reliable sources said it could be accident firing or the fire might have come from across the border.
The BSF shifted the injured jawan to District Hospital, Samba from where he was referred to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. The jawan had sustained gun shot on his shoulder. His condition was stated to be stable.
Injured jawan hailed from Maharashtra.
Khwara is last post of Samba sector, bordering Hiranagar area of Kathua district.
Meanwhile, Chechwal remained calm on the International Border in Samba sector but inside the village the panic remained panicky after yesterday’s direct firing on the civilians by Pakistani Rangers in which a couple was injured.
Senior officers from BSF, police and civil administration today visited Chechwal and inter-acted with the people. The BSF handed over Rs 5000 cash relief to the family of injured couple. Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Mubarak Singh had yesterday provided Rs 10,000 each to the two injured for treatment.
The people demanded that they should be provided 5 marlas land in the areas, which didn’t fall within the firing range so that they could live peacefully and without any fear. They called for construction of a `bund’ in the area to protect the village. The people also demanded regularization of injured Special Police Officer (SPO) Kulwant Singh in the Police Department.
The people said it was becoming difficult for them to cultivate their land in the forward areas due to repeated firing by the Rangers in Samba sector after detection of a tunnel dug by the Pakistan authorities inside the Indian territory. The Rangers have been resorting to firing to stop work started by the BSF between border fencing to Zero Line to uncover the tunnel, which had been constructed from Pakistan side and was 540 meters deep into the Indian territory, opening the village Chechwal.
The tunnel had been constructed to facilitate infiltration by the militants and smuggling of narcotics.
Authorities assured the villagers to stay put in their houses and said all possible measures would be taken to protect them.
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