In a major act of provocation, Pakistan Rangers early on Tuesday morning pounded forward border villages with long-range mortars in Kanachak, Pargwal and RS Pura sectors of Jammu region for about nine hours and targeted at least 16 Border Outposts (BOP) in which one civilian lost his life while three others including a BSF jawan was injured.
BSF authorities also claimed to have foiled an infiltration bid by two heavily-armed infiltrators after noticing their movement close to the International Border since late Monday evening.
After the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, Russia this is one of the brazen acts of provocation.
So far eight incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported in the last five days of August across Jammu region while 18 ceasefire violations were reported in July this year in which four people including three BSF soldiers were killed.
Following heavy exchange of firing from both the sides, panic-stricken residents fled to safety from their agricultural fields and houses falling in the direct line of fire from across the border. Throughout the day, the forward villages in the area wore a deserted look as villagers took shelters in safe locations.
To instill confidence among the local population, BSF jawans raised check-points at several places to prevent movement of local villagers towards the affected area. Children attending classes in their schools were sent back home. Normal life came to a standstill as intermittent firing continued till late afternoon.
According to BSF spokesman of Jammu frontier, “The unprovoked firing from the Pakistan side started around 5.40 am in Kanachak sector and later it spread to other areas of Pargwal, Tawi River and RS Pura as well.” The firing continued till 2.30 pm.
According to BSF authorities, at least 16 Border Outposts were targeted by the Pakistan Rangers using 81 mm mortars and medium machine guns and other small arms. According to local villagers, Pakistan Rangers used 81 mm mortars to target the civilian areas in the Pargwal and Kanachak sectors of Akhnoor.
The entire border belt was alerted in the area following reports of presence of heavily armed infiltrators on the other side of the border.
BSF also rushed additional troops to ensure area domination and prevent any successful infiltration under the cover of heavy Pakistan shelling from across the border.
According to eyewitness reports, the slain youth identified as Sanjay Sharma s/o Bachan Das of Hamirpur Kona in Pargwal sector was working in the fields when he was hit by a splinter of 81 mm mortar. He bled profusely but could not be evacuated safely by the BSF or Army jawans present in the front. With great difficulty, family of the deceased youth shifted him in a bus from Hamirpur Kona to Pargwal and rushed him to GMC in an ambulance from there. According to his brother, Sanjay died even before reaching medical college hospital in Jammu. One BSF Constable Ct Arjun YC also received injuries along with two civilians in the area.
BSF spokesman also claimed that 2 terrorists were seen moving suspiciously during late Monday evening and again their movement was observed in the wee hours of Tuesday close to IB. BSF spokesman apprehended that terrorists were waiting to make an infiltration attempt or to carry out sniping activity on BSF troops.
In the wake of Independence Day celebrations, BSF has already alerted the 190-km-long International Border from Kathua to Kanachak sector of Akhnoor. Intelligence reports and senior BSF authorities have been expressing serious concerns over the presence of heavily armed infiltrators across the launching pads opposite Jammu frontier. IG BSF Jammu range Rakesh Sharma had told reporters that at least 30-40 trained militants have been camping across these launching pads waiting for an opportune time to infiltrate inside the Indian territory to carry out spectacular terrorist strike.