Ahead of the beginning of the second half of the Budget Session in the national Capital, Pakistani Rangers late on Sunday violated ceasefire agreement by shelling forward border villages along the International Border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.
Before the shelling took place alert BSF jawans had reported movement of two suspected infiltrators close to the International Border in the same area. Before responding to the unprovoked firing from the Pakistan side, BSF jawans had fired warning shots to push back the suspected infiltrators.
The forward area in the Hiranagar sector is notorious for recording suspected movement of infiltrators. For past several days, BSF jawans stationed atop watch towers have been recording movement of small group of people close to the International Border.
Only two days ago lt Gen KH Singh, GOC of 16 Corps headquarters in Nagrota had claimed Army had reports that the militants were plotting intrusion bids to carry out strikes in Army uniforms on sensitive installations in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts just like they had done on March 20 and 21 this year in Rajbagh and later in Samba.
"Yes, we have inputs. The militants were planning the infiltration attempts to carry out terror attacks. But let me assure you, we are fully alert and will not allow the terrorists to succeed in their nefarious designs," the GOC 16 Corps had said in response to the queries by mediapersons on preparedness of the security forces to tackle such terror threats from across the border.
According to official sources, the movement of suspected infiltrators was noticed by the BSF troops after they had managed to cover long distance and came at least 20 metre inside the International Border taking advantage of the thick growth of elephantine grass.
The BSF troops deployed in the area fired UBGl rounds to prevent any infiltration from across the border. According to official sources, Pakistani Rangers fired 82 mm mortars on forward Indian villages to target the BSF posts shortly after 6 pm. Panic-stricken residents were searching for safe shelters in the area till last reports came in as they feared escalation of tension in the area.