Tension gripped the International Border (IB) on Wednesday when Pakistani rangers fired indiscriminately on Border Security Force (BSF) outposts killing one trooper and injuring seven others including four civilians at Arnia sub-sector of RS Pora sector in Jammu division, even as massive protests rocked summer capital city of Srinagar after the army vehicle mowed down seven civilians.
The incident occurred at 11.40 am when Pakistan rangers violated ceasefire and opened heavy fire on the Pital border outpost of BSF in Arnia sub sector.
BSF sources said Pakistani soldiers first sniped at the BSF jawans guarding the post injuring one of them in the shoulder. "When other jawans rushed to his aid, Pakistan rangers opened heavy firing injuring three more soldiers," said an officer.
Pakistani soldiers later targeted civilians using small arms and mortars. Four labourers who were busy working in the field near the IB suffered injuries in the cross border firing.
"There was firing during the day time and four people who were working in the fields suffered injuries. Though their condition is not serious, the fact remains that firing happened in the day time (which created panic)," said Shantmanu, divisional commissioner, Jammu.
All the injured were immediately shifted to the hospital where one of the BSF jawans succumbed to injuries. This is the third ceasefire violations in this stretch in the last one week.
Sources said Pakistani rangers have been upping the ante on the borders since they are opposed to removing the sarkanda (Elephant Grass) on the IB. The BSF troops have been pushing hard for removal of the grass for effective vigil on the IB.
However the Pakistani rangers are not allowing the grass to be cut because of the obvious reasons. This has fueled tensions between the two sides with Pakistan rangers even resorting to firing to thwart the exercise.
In a separate incident, violent protests rocked Srinagar outskirts after an army recovery truck rammed into a passenger cab killing seven people and injuring two others near Parimpora on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway.
"In the forenoon there has been an unfortunate road traffic accident at Parimpora due to head on collision between Army recovery Van and Tavera passenger vehicle. Seven passengers died and two others were injured in the accident," a police spokesman said.
Police has seized the army vehicle and arrested the driver. "A case has been registered and investigation into the matter has been taken up," he said.
Massive protests rocked the area after the accident. People raised pro-freedom slogans and pelted stones on the police which in turn fired smoke shells and used cane charge to disperse the mob.
Meanwhile, suspected militants killed an army jawan when they fired at him from close range at Laram village in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.
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