The situation along the International Border continues to remain tense across Jammu Frontier as Pakistan Rangers have been searching for an opportunity to provoke a strong Indian reaction to further escalate the tension. In the absence of any contact between the BSF officers and their Pakistani counterparts since December 31, 2014 the security situation on the border is once again turning grim.
late Sunday night, Pakistan Rangers once again violated ceasefire agreement, third time in a row in the month of February in RS Pura and Arnia sectors. According to reports, Pakistan Rangers targeted forward Indian posts and several civilian areas using 81 mm mortars and automatic guns for over four hours. One civilian living near Jeora farm in RS Pura area was injured while several livestock in the vicinity bore the brunt of the indiscriminate firing.
According to BSF officers, “the firing which started around 10.00 p.m went on till 1.00 a.m”. The BSF officers claimed Pakistan Rangers fired 81 mm mortars and other automatic weapons to target the BSF posts. In retaliation BSF responded strongly to silence the Pakistani guns. “ At least eight BSF posts were made target during the cross Border firing”, official sources said.
Meanwhile, the Border residents of villages falling in the direct line of fire spent the long night under the shadow of terror. Families of nomads engaged in the business of harvesting animal milk appealed to the Government agencies to shift them to safer places in order to ensure safety of their women and children. Two civilians were killed in Jeora farm area on August 23, 2014 in heavy exchange of firing from across the Border.
Three days ago when BSF jawans were preparing ground to carry out small repair works near Gate no 3 adjoining Abdullian Border post in RS Pura sector they were targeted by the Pakistan Rangers across the Border. The local commander in the area decided against retaliating as local farmers were working in the fields and may have been caught in the cross fire if BSF too had retaliated strongly.
On Wednesday also Pakistan Rangers had also prevented BSF jawans from coming close to the Border fence for carrying out some repair work. Meanwhile, to prevent any major infiltration bid BSF jawans continue to patrol the Border fence and maintain tight vigil along the Borders using night vision device and image body sensors.