BSF jawan, Army soldier fall to cross-border bullets in J&K

It is a battle like situation on the International Border (IB) in Jammu division. Pakistan Rangers killed another Border Security Force (BSF) soldier, the third in the last five days, injuring seven civilians including three women when they resorted to heavy gunfire along the IB in the RS Pora and Arnia sectors of Jammu division on Wednesday night.

In a separate incident, an Army jawan was killed and another injured when troops foiled an infiltration bid on the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir's Tangdhar sector.

Border Security Force later hit back and killed one Pakistan Ranger grievously injuring another in retaliation to the cross-border firing and shelling along the IB in the Jammu division.

BSF head constable Jitender Kumar, Bihar was killed when he received shrapnel wounds in shelling at Abdulian area of RS Pora sector. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. "Salutes to martyr Jitender Kumar for standing tall to frontiers, defending borders till his last breath. True to motto," tweeted BSF.

Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked shelling at 8.30 pm on Wednesday targeting 15 Border Outposts (BOPs) and more than 18 villages. Seven civilians including three women were injured when a shell exploded in Gopar Basti area of RS Pora sector.

Pakistan Rangers have been using long range weapons including 82 mm, having a range of 4.5 kilometers and 120 mm mortars, with a range of seven kilometers, to hit deep into the civilian areas along the IB. Pakistan fired around 200 shells during the night to target BSF and civilian areas.

Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontier, DK Upadhyaya told DNA that BSF is retaliating heavily and in the retaliatory fire one Pakistani Ranger has been shot dead and another has been grievously injured.

"Two Rangers were shot by the BSF at two different places. They (Pakistan Rangers) somehow managed to evacuate one of them. Another has been shot dead and he is lying there only. They are targeting almost every post. It is happening in RS Pora, Arnia and Ramgarh sectors," he said.

Upadhyaya noted Pakistan Rangers are making desperate attempts to push in militants to Indian side (under the cover of shelling). "They have been making desperate attempts to send the militants in. That is always there.

And that is their prime motive," he said.

In another incident, Indian Army foiled a major infiltration bid when they intercepted a group of militants trying to sneak in from the Line of Control in Tangdhar sector. "In the ensuing encounter one soldier has been martyred and another injured," said Colonel Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Srinagar.

Pakistan shelling has also forced thousands of villagers living close to the IB to flee from their homes. Police said 90 per cent of population living around 12 villages have shifted to safer areas to escape the shelling. "Since Wednesday around 18 people are injured in Pakistan shelling. Only 10 per cent people are currently living in 10 to 12 shelling prone villages. Ninety per cent of people have already shifted," Surinder Chaudhary, sub divisional police officer, RS Pora, told DNA.

Police said most of the villagers of shelling prone areas are putting up with their relatives in the safer areas."We have set up camps for the people of the shelling-prone villages. Most of the people have gone to their relatives places. Last night, around 250 people were putting up in shelter camps," said Chaudhary. Pakistan army, meanwhile, has violated the ceasefire in Sunderbani sector which is being strongly retaliated by the Indian Army.