As casualties in cross-border firing mounted in Jammu, with one more soldier and a civilian woman dead on Monday, the Border Security Force (BSF) has said it had foiled three attempts by the Pakistan army’s “to push heavily-armed militants under the cover of shelling and firing”.
“In the past 36 hours, under the cover of ongoing and heavy cross-border firing and shelling, Pakistan has relentlessly tried to push heavily-armed militants groups into Indian territory with the nefarious intention to disturb peace and cause casualties for security forces in the hinterland area,” said a Jammu-based BSF spokesman.
He said three infiltration attempts were made in Jammu’s Hiranagar Sector, Kathua, since October 29.
October 30 infiltration
“Two groups, comprising three terrorists, were trying to sneak into Jammu on October 30,” the spokesman said. “The infiltrators took shelter in the thick, wild growth on the International Border (IB). While the country was celebrating Diwali, alert BSF troops spotted the group near the IB. They remained hidden during the day for infiltration. BSF troops opened fire to neutralise them. The armed militants targeted BSF troops but were forced to retreat by effective fire.”
Once the infiltrators were targeted by the BSF with accurate and heavy fire, Pakistan Rangers came to their rescue and provided covering fire to the militants group for their safe withdrawal towards Pakistani villages, the spokesman added.
“The group of terrorists was seen moving half-bending, crawling and running towards the Pakistan village of Abhiyal Dogra to save their lives,” said the spokesman.
Soldier and civilian die
Meanwhile, the Army’s Northern Command spokesman confirmed the death of a soldier in the Rajouri Sector. “The violation was retaliated with a massive fire assault. One Indian Army soldier was martyred,” said the spokesman.
In Poonch’s Mendhar Sector, a 54-year-old woman died and her daughter sustained serious injuries when a shell landed near their house.
Firing and shelling was also reported in Mankot and Balakote areas along the Line of Control (LoC).
According to Army officials in New Delhi, the day-long ceasefire violation in the Rajouri Sector on Monday was “in response to the Indian Army’s attack on Pakistani posts in Kashmir’s Keran Sector last week”.
Over 60 ceasefire violations
On October 28, an Army patrol team was attacked in the Macchil Sector and in the encounter that followed, one soldier, Sepoy Mandeep Singh, was killed and his body was mutilated by a terrorist before he ran and crossed over the LoC supported by covering fire from the Pakistani Army.
In more than 60 ceasefire violations since September 30, when the Indian Army carried out surgical attacks inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), nine security personnel have been killed. In retaliation, more than 15 Pakistani Rangers have been killed along the IB.
(With inputs from Dinakar Peri in New Delhi)
