A BSF jawan was killed by the Pakistan Rangers on Tuesday in sniper firing from across the International Border in Ramgarh sector of Samba. The jawan was part of the BSF area domination patrol.
The attack took place less than 24 hours after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated SMART fence pilot project across two locations of Jammu frontier to check rising incidents of infiltration through the traditional routes.
Throughout the day, speculation was rife about the fate of injured jawan as he or his body could not be traced by the patrolling parties in the forward area.
Situation also remained tense following “unconfirmed” reports that the Pakistan Rangers had abducted the injured jawan on Tuesday morning.
“In response to firing from across the International Border, BSF troops took positions and retaliated. One of the BSF jawans was hit by enemy bullets,” said the BSF spokesman.
The BSF spokesman also clarified that locating the body of the injured BSF jawan proved difficult due to undulating marshy terrain on the Indian side.
He said the jawans on “ground zero” were still engaged in the task of clearing the area of any likely IEDs and booby-traps to ensure safety of patrolling parties.
According to ground reports, at least four BSF jawans were present in the forward area of Ramgarh sector in Samba around 11.30 am on Tuesday when one of them, sitting atop a tractor was hit by a “sniper” fire from across the International Border.
The injured jawan was engaged in the task of clearing wild growth of grass across the barbed wire fencing to ensure clear vision in the forward area.