STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In one of the most provocative acts of ceasefire violations, Pakistan Rangers on Monday killed one more BSF personnel and a minor boy from Bihar along the International Border across Jammu frontier. At least 10 others, including two BSF personnel and eight civilians were injured in the continuous exchange of cross border firing.
The BSF martyr has been identified as Head Constable Sushil Kumar, hailing from Kurukshetra in Haryana while six year old minor boy was identified as Vicky, son of a migrant labourer Varinder Kumar.
This is for the first time Pak Rangers had activated maximum stretch of International Border between Suchetgarh and Akhnoor by intensifying mortar shelling on civilian areas.
At least 20 forward villages and over two dozen border outposts were targeted by the Pak Rangers during the overnight shelling. According to official sources they used 82 mm mortars to hit the civilian pockets and spread reign of terror among the local border residents.
According to Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh, 50 animals were killed and 182 others were injured between Sunday evening and Monday morning.
He said several schools falling in the border areas were closed down to ensure safety of the students.
Meanwhile, DG BSF KK Sharma arrived here to take fresh stock of the security situation along the International Border.
Sending out a tough message to Islamabad, Sharma said,”We will give befitting reply to Pakistan as our two soldiers have been martyred.
Responding to media queries, DG BSF claimed Pakistani forces are deliberately trying to “create a flash point” to facilitate infiltration of terrorists into India. He asserted that these designs will be foiled.
He insisted that BSF never initiates ceasefire violations nor does it target civilian areas, a comment that assumes significance in the wake of Pakistan army’s claim that two people, including a minor girl, were killed in firing by Indian troops.
“They (Pakistani forces) deliberately create such flash points with an aim of engineering infiltration,” he told reporters while commenting on the intensified cross- border shelling and firing by Pakistani troops.
“You can say that they (Pakistani troops) always try to create a flash point so that they get an excuse to go for action,” Sharma added after laying wreath on mortal remains of BSF Head Constable Sushil Kumar.
According to BSF spokesman, Head constable Sushil Kumar was on duty at a forward post in RS Pura when he was hit by a bullet injury on his chest.He was immediately rushed to the GMC, Jammu where doctors declared him brought dead.
On the other hand minor boy Vicky was killed soon after he stepped out of the bunker after spending a night. He was hit by splinters and died on the spot.
More than 20 forward villagers wore deserted look till Monday afternoon and the tell tale signs of destruction were visible at numerous places. Several houses were hit by bullets and splinters of mortar bombs. The outer walls of the residential houses were dotted with bullet marks and at many places the roof tops were pierced by mortar shells triggering fresh wave of terror.
