Pakistan Ranger’s death sparks off border firing,25 Indian outposts targeted

According to available reports,seven persons,including two security personnel,have been injured on the Indian side,while at least two Pakistanis have been killed and two injured.

The recent confrontation between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers was reportedly triggered by the death of a Pakistan Ranger,Israr Ahmed,in the Chaprar sector on October 17.

BSF sources said Ahmed was killed after the Indian posts responded to heavy firing by the Pakistani forces. The same day,five persons,including three children,were injured in Najwal,on the Indian side.

On October 18,a BSF personnel and a police constable were injured in continued firing. A civilian,allegedly an infiltrator,was reportedly killed and two others injured on the Pakistan side. Pakistan,however,refused to accept the body.

PTI quoted BSF officers as saying that the Pakistani forces fired at the outposts in the forward areas of Jammu and Samba districts throughout Sunday night. The Pakistan Rangers also shelled civilian hamlets along the border,triggering panic. “They are firing round-the-clock on our posts and patrolling persons to inflict casualties,” a BSF personnel was quoted as saying.

While the heavy shelling and mortar fire is expected to continue for the next few days,union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is scheduled to visit the forward areas on Tuesday. He will also visit Samba,where a group of terrorists had carried out an attack on Army and police posts last month.

“There is a sharp rise in infiltration and it could be because of the way India has taken action against terrorists,” said Shinde,speaking at a police commemoration day function in the capital. Dismissing Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s demand for US intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue,Shinde said,“Our stand is very clear. It is an issue between two countries. No third country can take part in it.”

Meanwhile,Army Chief General Bikram Singh met Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday and briefed him on the recent ceasefire violations. The unscheduled meeting took place on a day when top Army officers are in the capital for the Army Commanders’ Conference.

In the last two months,there has been a significant increase in the number of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC). Earlier,two soldiers were beheaded in a cross-border raid,followed by the killing of five others in a similar action.