Hours after ‘pleading’ for Ceasefire, Pakistan breaches IB truce yet again

No trans-border tunnel found so far in Hiranagar

JAMMU: Barely hours after it begged India to stop its punitive retaliation that caused major loss of life and military assets to Pakistan over past three days, the enemy nation stooped to its lowest- as has become the usual affair, starting again the unprovoked firing and shelling along the International Border (IB) in Samba district.

Small-arms firing from the Pakistani side started around 10:07 pm tonight at Narayanpur in the Ramgarh sector and was followed by mortar firing, aimed at the forward posts of the BSF’s 62 Battalion and villages along the border, a officer of the Border Security Force (BSF) informed.

The fresh firing came less than 12 hours after Pakistani rangers were was compelled to ‘plead’ with BSF for ceasing of fire, following which the two forces have agreed to maintain peace on the border.
The BSF officer, who requested not to be named, said the BSF troops guarding the border retaliated to silence the Pakistani guns and the exchange of fire between the two sides was going on when the last reports came in.

However, there was no report of any casualty, he added.

Earlier in the day, having suffered major loss of life and military assets, besides general property in India’s punitive retaliation over past three days to its unprovoked firing and shelling along the International Border (IB) in Jammu region, the Pakistan on Sunday pleaded with BSF for ceasing of fire.

After the telephonic conversation between the officials of BSF and Pakistan Rangers- which came three days after four civilians and a BSF officer were killed, with 12 other injured in enemy country’s heavy shelling in RS Pura, Arnia and Bishnah sectors, the two forces agreed to maintain peace on the IB.

India in its retaliation has pounded the areas across the border with heavy artillery that also left a trooper dead across the border, besides destroying Pakistan’s military assets.
The BSF has also released a 19-second thermal-imagery footage showing the destruction of a Pakistani bunker across the border in Akhnoor Sector in its punitive fire, further substantiating its claim.

“Pakistan Rangers called up Jammu BSF formation today and beseeched to stop firing,” BSF PRO, Manoj Yadav said.

"The befitting reply by BSF units to the unprovoked shelling and firing across the IB by Pakistani forces has forced them to plead for ceasefire," he claimed.

"For the last three days, the precision fire of BSF troopers on Pakistani firing locations inflicted heavy losses and yesterday this firing found their mark with one of the rangers in chicken neck area," the official said.

Earlier on May 18, media reported had informed that Indian retaliation to the unholy unprovoked shelling by Pakistan had resulted into death of four Pakistanis in village Khanoor across the border while 10 other people were injured.

Pakistan had on the same day-incidentally the first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan- had resorted to heavy barrage of mortars on villages and border outposts in R S Pura, Bishnah and Arnia sectors of Jammu along IB, killing four civilians and a BSF jawan, even as 12 others sustained injuries.

Besides the civilians, the BSF had also lost two of its jawans in this latest round of unprovoked firing on the Jammu IB over the last few days, increased in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's day-long visit to the state yesterday.

Earlier on May 18, at the wreath laying ceremony of Constable Sita Ram, the BSF IG Jammu Frontier, Ram Awatar had vowed to avenge the martyrdom of the BSF jawan.

“The BSF had struck back at Pakistani posts, avenging the death of Indian jawans. This can be seen from the coverage on Pakistani television channels,” he had said.

However, with the new thaw in the border skirmishes, the situation is expected to be normal in days to come.

"The two sides agreed to maintain peace on the international border and hold periodic meetings to ensure that civilian life and property remained safe on both sides," Yadav said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the BSF also said that no trans-border tunnel was found in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district after five suspected terrorists were said to have infiltrated into Indian territory.

"No tunnel was found. We were working on probability. Otherwise, tunnel checking is now part of BSF daily operational duty," Yadav informed.

"Though the initial impression we got was that some infiltrators might have crossed, we went by the past cases and reports. However, on verification and ground search and analysis up to now, we feel that those five people may be villagers or locals or at the most, internal smugglers,'' he added.

"Still, nothing is ruled out. We are working on this along with other agencies too, but nothing substantial has come out so far," said the officer.