After exchange of sweets, Pak rockets hit BSF outpost

Within hours of sending sweets to their Indian counterparts in R S Pura sector...

Within hours of sending sweets to their Indian counterparts in R S Pura sector on Thursday, the Pakistani Rangers allegedly greeted Border Security Force BSF personnel with rockets fired at its outpost near Abdullian, Khatmarian and Sangral between 2 am to 3 am on Independence Day.

The Deputy Inspector General of the BSF J B Sangwan confirmed that all the five rockets fell in fields near the outposts and did not result in any loss of life or injury to anyone. The BSF did not retaliate. However, the Rangers denied having opened fire on the Indian side, saying that they do not possess rockets and that the attack was likely to be the handiwork of militants.

Significantly, on Thursday, a few hours before the firing of rockets, Pakistani Rangers 8212; in keeping with a yearly Independence Day tradition8212;had arrived with sweets for their BSF counterparts at the octroi post on the Indian side. The Rangers, accompanied by four children, were led by Commandant Jamal of 2nd Punjab Regiment.

Although the BSF did gift sweets to the Rangers on Independence Day, it also lodged a strong protest. 8220;While handing over sweets, we categorically told them that the matter is of serious concern for all of us. We did not retaliate this time as there had been no loss on our side. However, we are not going to tolerate such an incident in the future,8221; Sangwan added.

Incidentally, Friday8217;s attack, if it was indeed carried out by the Rangers, was Pakistan8217;s second ceasefire violation in two days. On Thursday morning, the Pakistani Army had fired mortar shells on the Indian side in Krishna Ghati KG sector of Poonch district. The Indian side did not retaliate this time either.With these incidents, the number of ceasefire violations by the Pakistani Army and the Rangers since this January has gone up to nearly two dozen.

Lt Colonel S D Goswami, Defence Ministry spokesman, said Pakistani troops have started resorting to firing on Indian positions following pressure from militant groups to cross over to this side of the LoC in order to disrupt the Assembly elections in J038;K later this year. They are desperate to sneak into the state from PoK before the onset of winter when all mountainous passes get closed due to snowfall, he added.