Few rounds fired on IB

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 28: The Border Security Force (BSF) opened firing in forward area of Katao in Ghagwal sector of Samba district this afternoon after observing suspicious movement in the area even as Pakistan  displayed white flags along the IB in Samba sector possibly as a mark for having peace but it did not respond to calls for a flag meeting between border guards to de-escalate tensions.
Official sources said the BSF fired five rounds in Katao area of Ghagwal at 1.15 pm today after noticing some suspicious movement on the border. No one was injured. There was no ceasefire violation from any side, sources said, adding it was a preventive firing to ensure that there was no infiltration of the militants.
For past four days, no major ceasefire violation has been reported from any part of the IB. At all the places, the people from forward areas, who had shifted to safer areas, have returned.
Meanwhile, there were two white flags displayed from two different border villages along Ramgarh in Samba district and Jammu sector today, the sources said.
But calls for a flag meeting at Octroi Border Out Post (BOP) along IB in Suchetgarh sector of R S Pura got no response, they said.
BSF troops had earlier tried to hold flag meeting on October 18 and 20 with Pakistan Rangers on IB at two forward BoPs in Samba district, but Pakistan Rangers did not turn up.
As per the reports, Pakistan Rangers, who had also given consent for meeting on October 26 and 27 also did not respond.
BSF had sent communications via hotlines to the Rangers from Nikowal and Shidra and Octroi BOPs and had received their response.