Fresh tensions were sparked off along the International Border between India and Pakistan following attack on a Border Security Force (BSF) patrol by Pakistan Rangers in Samba sector of Jammu  Frontier on Wednesday in which one jawan was killed and another received bullet injuries.

Retaliating strongly to the unprovoked firing by Pakistan Rangers on New Year’s eve, the BSF is learnt to have killed at least four Rangers in the same sector.  Following a briefing by BSF Director-General DK Pathak, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had directed the force to give a befitting reply and deal firmly with any provocative act of aggression along the International Border with Pakistan.

“The Home Minister asked the DG, BSF, to give a suitable and appropriate reply to any such unprovoked firing,” an official statement said.  Pathak said that one BSF jawan was killed in the unprovoked and premeditated Pakistani firing and the BSF retaliated effectively, in which four Pakistan Rangers were reportedly killed and some others injured.

The BSF chief said that Pakistan Rangers were forced to wave white flags as they pleaded for truce to prevent further loss of life on their side. He said the firing has stopped since then and the situation is totally under control.  Ground reports suggested senior Pakistan Rangers also got in touch with their Indian counterparts over the phone urging them to stop firing to allow them to remove the bodies of their soldiers.

Even though firing was stopped in the evening, a high alert has been sounded along the border to prevent repeat of similar attacks on Indian patrols.  The jawans have been directed to maintain utmost caution while carrying out routine patrolling exercises in foggy weather conditions.

Inspector-General of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Rakesh Sharma, who rushed to the spot to take stock of the security situation, said: “An Indian patrol was targeted by Pakistan Rangers near Regal post in Samba sector of Jammu frontier in the afternoon. One of the jawans who had received fatal injuries later succumbed while another officer was shifted to the hospital for immediate medical care.”

The martyred jawan was identified as Sepoy Sriram Gawaria of  Rajasthan while ASI Sunil Kumar was injured in the attack. This was the second incident of ceasefire violation from across the border in the last 24 hours. Pakistani troops had resorted to firing on forward posts along the loC in Pallanwala sector of Jammu district and Sepoy Amarjeet Singh was injured in the firing on Tuesday.

Pakistani troops had on Sunday violated the ceasefire twice along the border in Arnia forward belt of Jammu and Hiranagar belt of Kathua district.  Anticipating escalation of border activity in the plain areas of Jammu frontier the BSF had already implemented its winter management border strategy to prevent fresh infiltration bids from across the border. The surveillance equipment has been activated along the entire stretch to maintain tight vigil during foggy weather conditions.