Jammu, Jan 15: An assistant commandant of the Border Security Force (BSF) was killed in sniper firing by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district Tuesday morning, officials said.
They said Pakistan troops also “violated the ceasefire” and resorted to firing and shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate strongly.
The BSF troops were carrying out border domination along the IB, when snipers of Pakistan Rangers opened fire on them at around 1050 hours in Hiranagar-Samba sector of Kathua district, a senior BSF officer said.
Assistant Commandant Vinay Prasad was critically injured in the sniper fire and the officer was evacuated to the Military Hospital at Satwari (Jammu), where he succumbed to injuries, he said.
The BSF Director General and all ranks of the force salute his supreme sacrifice. The BSF stands with the family of the bereaved, the officer said.
“Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violations by resorting to firing and shelling along with heavy caliber weapons in Sunderbani sector from 1000 hours,” PRO, Defence said.
Indian Army troops guarding the borderline retaliated effectively and strongly. The exchange of fire is still on, he said.
The year 2018 has witnessed the highest number of 2,936 ceasefire violations in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border.
On Sunday, an Army soldier was injured in along the LoC in Rajouri’s Keri sector.
On Friday, an Army porter was killed in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. On the same day, a Major and a soldier were killed in an IED blast along the LoC in Laam sub-sector of Rajouri.
Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the 2003 ceasefire understanding for maintaining peace and tranquility at Indo-Pak flag meetings, the truce has been repeatedly violated.
