An ‘infiltrator’ camel and two lives lost near border

Though just 300 metres separate the BSF and their counterparts, the Pakistani Rangers, in Sriganganagar sector in Rajasthan, exchange of fir...

Though just 300 metres separate the BSF and their counterparts, the Pakistani Rangers, in Sriganganagar sector in Rajasthan, exchange of fire isn’t common.

Yet, both sides fired at each other on June 18 and a BSF Assistant Commandant and a Pakistani Rranger lost their lives over a four-legged infiltrator: a camel.

Sources said the beast had crossed the zero line of the International Border on Tuesday, and close on its heels came a Pakistani Ranger to take it back.

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‘‘A BSF mobile patrol which was crossing the area at the time saw the Ranger in Indian territory and chased him. The Rangers from across who were watching the drama opened fire to protect their colleague. Sumer Singh died in the process,’’ a senior official said. The BSF too retaliated, killing the Ranger.

The deaths created considerable tension, but BSF Director General (DG) Gurbachan Jagat told The Indian Express a flag meeting held on Thursday eased matters. ‘‘We have sorted out things.’’ He confirmed that Assistant Commandant Sumer Singh died in the firing, but said he didn’t have any more details since he’d just returned from Srinagar.

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