1. Home
2. Top Stories

2 BSF jawans among 5 injured in firing on Jammu IB, LoC

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 9/14/2017 12:05:38 PM

JAMMU/POONCH, Sep 13: Three civilians and two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured as Pakistani troops today violated the ceasefire twice by firing and shelling along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district and the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch.
Official sources said that Pakistan Army resorted to firing and shelling on Indian posts along the LoC in Mankote, Sawjian and Digwar areas in Poonch from 3 PM onwards. Three civilians and two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured in Pakistani firing.
However, Indian Army retaliated strongly to Pakistan's unprovoked firing.
Official reports said that three civilians Mohammad Khursheed son of Mohammad Hussain of Digwar, Saddam Hussain, son of Ghulam Din of Katlian and another unknown civilian were injured when unprovoked shelling by Pakistani troops in Digwar while two BSF jawans posted 137 Battalion BSF identified as Head Constable Sandeep and Constable Ravinder Singh were injured when Pakistani troops targeted Tandi Tekri forward BSF Post in Sawjian sector, this evening.
All the injured were hospitalized while one of them whose identity was not ascertained sustained splinter injury on foot and was he was discharged by the doctors after first aid.
Pakistan troops used small arms initially but later used heavy machine guns and pounded mortars.
Giving details about the exchange of fire, Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said, "Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing and shelling on our positions on the LoC in Poonch district's Digwar."
"Unprovoked firing from Pakistan's side started at around 6.30pm," he added. He also said that the Pakistan army fired at the Indian posts with small arms, automatics and mortars and the gunfight is still underway.
"This is for the second time in two days, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the LoC. Yesterday, a woman was injured in unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops in Lam area of the district," he said.
While in Jammu, Pakistani security forces unleashed heavy firing in Pargwal area of Akhnoor sector. The Pakistan troops initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars. The Indian Army retaliated to the continuous firing strongly.
Pakistan rangers resorted to small arms firing on Brahman Bella and Raipur border outposts along the border in Pargwal sector of the Akhnoor belt in Jammu from 3.15 PM today, a police officer said.
At 3.45 hours, Pakistani rangers also fired mortar shells along IB, he said, adding that the BSF retaliated.
There was no loss of life or injury to any one so far, he said.
Pakistani forces have violated the ceasefire several times in recent days, officials said. Incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan have increased sharply this year.
Till August 1, there were 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to Army figures.
Yesterday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that India would ensure that Pakistan is forced to stop ceasefire violations, which amounted to 400 times since 2014.