On Monday when Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh was touring forward areas along the line of Control in Nowshera sector of frontier Rajouri district along with top bureaucrats and senior officers of Border Security Force (BSF) Pakistan army shattered peace by initiating ‘unprovoked’ ceasefire violation in neighbouring Poonch district.
The ‘indiscriminate’ firing from the Pakistani side started around 1.45 p.m and continued till late evening.
According to field reports Pakistan army had turned their guns towards civilian areas and fired mortars, small arms and automatic weapons to target forward Indian posts. In response the Indian side strongly retaliated the fire to silence roaring Pak guns.
Despite heavy exchange of fire along the loC Union Home Minister went ahead and attended series of programmes aimed at boosting morale of the border residents and brave soldiers guarding the frontiers of the Mother Nation.
On his arrival Rajnath Singh visited an army camp in Nowshera and later met displaced border residents camping in a relief camp.
Acknowledging the role of border residents and their sacrifices Singh said people living in border areas are our ‘strategic assets’. He said it is our duty to look after their basic needs. “I have instructed the authorities to increase recruitment of people living in border areas in our security forces”,he added.
Responding to the long pending demand of affected population Home Minister also announced that those who suffer more than 50 percent disability due to ceasefire violations will receive Rs 5 lakh as compensation
later he attended a Prahari Sammellan at a BSF camp in Nowshera. He also took stock of the operational preparedness on the line of control and the International Border.
During the briefing he said the government is working to seal the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. We are also working on technological solutions. In his address to the BSF jawans Singh said ," BSF is not only the first line of defence but also the first wall of defence".
He said i know you are working in extremely challenging conditions. "Getting best surveillance equipment under modernisation programme is one of the priorities for the government".
Kamal Nayan Chaubey, ADG BSF WESTERN COMMAND and Ram Awatar IG BSF Jammu Frontier along with various dignitaries i. e. Dr Jitendra Singh, MOS (PMO), Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh, Dy CM (J&K), Rajiv Gauba, Union Home Secretary, B B Vyas, Chief Secretary (J&K), S P Vaid, DG Police (J&K) and Raj Kumar Goyal, Principal Secretary (H) J&K accompanied Home Minister.
In the evening Home Minister interacted with various delegations including Panun Kashmir, representatives of industry, business and trade organisations, representatives of POJK refugees, members of civil society etc.