The Border Security Force (BSF) has decided to not lower guard and continue to maintain a high level vigil along the International Border (IB) in the Jammu Frontier despite a recent sector commander-level meeting held to ease tensions, a senior official said on June 6.
Over 30,000 people, who fled from the border hamlets along the IB in Akhnoor sector due to heavy shelling by Pakistan on June 3 that resulted in the death of two BSF jawans and injuries to 16, have returned to their homes after a meeting between the Pakistan Rangers and the BSF on June 4.
However, the border force continues to be alert. “We have not lowered our guard along the border [after the sector commander level-meeting]. We are on alert”, IG, BSF (Jammu Frontier) Ram Awtar told PTI .
The border with Pakistan was silent as there were no ceasefire violations in the last couple of days. “People will slowly get the confidence to resume farming activity,” he said.
Asked about the reports of use of flying objects by Pakistan along the IB in Akhnoor sector, the IG said these things keep happening and there was nothing to worry. According to some reports, the people of a border hamlet in Pargwal saw a red light emitting object flying close to the border on the night of June 5.
According to official data, there were 1,252 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir between January 1 and May 31 this year.
In May, thousands of people residing along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts had to flee their houses following intense shelling from the Pakistan side. On May 29, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed to “fully implement” the ceasefire pact of 2003 in “letter and spirit” to stop border skirmishes in Jammu and Kashmir.
