After the formation of Narendra Modi-led BJP Government at the Centre, tensions were escalated along the International Border with Pakistan after about one dozen Indian border outposts were targeted with mortars and automatic small arm weapons from across the border in RS Pura sector of Jammu frontier in the wee hours of Sunday.
The heavy exchange of fire and strong Indian retaliation spread panic in the border villages forcing the local villagers to spend long sleepless night inside safety bunkers.Though no civilian was hurt but livestock bore the brunt of firing from across the border in RS Pura sector.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also urged the Prime Minister to talk to his Pakistani counterpart to stop ceasefire violations as it adversely affects routine life of common residents in the border areas. “Modi has good relations with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and they also communicate on Twitter. They should get this message across that ceasefire violations are not right.”
Panic stricken local villagers refused to step out of their houses and reported presence of live mortar shells in their fields. One of the local Indian Army unit rushed their trained personnel to defuse the live mortar shells to prevent any loss of life due to human negligence.The farmers in the area were staying indoors during the day for the past four days following intermittent exchange of firing even during day time in the border areas.
According to ground reports, late on Sunday night, when majority of villagers were sleeping in their houses mortars started raining in the forward villages of RS Pura sector.According to BSF spokesman, “At least 12 border outposts, four in RS Pura and eight in Arnia sub sector were targeted by Pakistani Rangers between 1.30 and 6.00 am during the night.”More than one dozen villages also came in direct line of fire and bore the brunt of Pakistani fire power.
This is the major incident of ceasefire violation along the International Border after the formation of Narendra Modi-led Government in New Delhi.When this correspondent visited the border areas on Sunday morning, many local villagers showed boundary walls with bullet marks while live mortar shells pierced through rooftops of some houses in the area. A local farmer identified as Bodh Raj in Gharana village lost cattle in the cross fire while rooftop of another farmer was damaged.
For the last one week, the International Border in RS Pura Sector has become the focal point as it was witnessing regular exchange of fire.Intelligence reports had earlier claimed presence of 30-40 trained militants in the launching pads across the border. In the last one week alert BSF troops have also claimed to have foiled infiltration bids in the garb of cover fire from across the border.
A BSF jawan was killed when Pittal border outpost in Arnia sub sector was targeted by the Pakistani Rangers on July 16.Meanwhile, to defuse border tension sector commander, Jammu frontier established telephonic connection with his Pakistani counterpart based in Sialkote on Sunday.The BSF spokesman claimed strong protest was lodged with the Pakistani rangers over targeting of civilian areas and Indian Border outposts. The Pakistan sector commander, according to BSF officers, denied any role in the firing incident along the International Border.
Following tension in the area, the local villagers are mentally prepared to shift their families to safer places. Meanwhile, sowing activity is on hold in some of the affected areas along the International Border.
leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad in Jammu claimed in the last two months around two dozen incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported so far and the Modi-led BJP Government is silent on the issue. Azad said when the BJP was in Opposition they always charged that the UPA Government was weak and was not doing enough to stop the ceasefire violations. Now they are running the Government they should ensure peace along the border, he added.
Referring to China, Omar said, “We are not worried about China now because they don’t harm us anymore. But ceasefire violations from Pakistan side is a matter of great concern to us.”There has been loss of life, cattle and damage to property due to Pakistani firing, which has caused problems for us here, he said.