JAMMU : The Border Security Force(BSF) today said the Pakistan has changed the strategy and shelling villages situated along the international border as they were ‘soft targets’.
“Villages along IB are new targets of Pakistani Rangers as they are ‘soft targets’ and it is being done to create fear among the residents,” Dharmendra Parikh, DIG BSF told reporters after wreath laying ceremony of one BSF jawan, who got martyred yesterday in Pakistan firing in Arnia sub-sector of R S Pura.
The DIG said, “There is no threat of retaliation from the villagers side and this is the reason that they are being targeted.”
“There is a complete change in the strategy of Pakistan as earlier when India and Pakistan Prime Minister met for dialogue in US, twin fidayeen attacks were conducted in Samba and Hiranagar and presently, instead of Line of Control, more ceasefire violation attempts are being done on IB,” tthe officer said.
He, further, said since October 17, one BSF jawan has been killed and nine got injured adding, “Last night around 50 forward posts of BSF were targeted.”
“We are on alert and firing from Pakistan side is being ‘effectively’ retaliated,” said DIG Parikh adding that tight security has been put in place and any attempt of ceasefire violation or infiltration from across the border was being foiled by the troops.
One BSF jawan was killed and seven got injured when Pakistan Rangers fired heavily on Indian posts in Arnia, RS Pura and Akhnoor Sectors.
Pakistan Rangers fired heavily on forward posts after the Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde reviewed border situation at a meeting with senior BSF and Police officials at Samba.
Mr Shinde had said the attempts of ceasefire violations had increased from Pakistan and he also motivated BSF jawans to ‘effectively’ retaliate to firing from across the border.
The Union Home Minister and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday also reviewed overall security in the state at a high level meeting.
(agencies)
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