2 BSF Soldiers Killed, 10 Injured In Unprovoked And Indiscriminate Firing By Pakistan In Jammu's Akhnoor

2 BSF soldiers were killed in unprovoked firing across the International Border by Pak in Jammu's Akhnoor

Highlights

Frequency of firing along International Border and LoC increases in May
India, Pak military commanders speak, agree to 2003 ceasefire pact
Less than a week later, Pakistan Rangers resort to unprovoked firing

Jammu: Two Border Security Force or BSF personnel, including an officer, were killed today as Pakistani Rangers targeted Indian posts along the International Border in Jammu with mortars and firing. The unprovoked and indiscriminate firing by Pakistan came nearly a week after DGMOs of both countries agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit".

The heavy firing and mortar shelling from across the border in Pragwal area of Akhnoor and nearby Kanachak and Khour sectors also left 10 persons, including a policeman and a woman injured, and forced people to abandon their homes and rush for safer places.

"Pakistan side resorted to unprovoked firing by targeting forward duty points at International Border (IB) in Pragwal around 0115 hours, causing critical injuries to Assistant Sub-inspector SN Yadav (48) and constable VK Pandey," a senior BSF officer told news agency PTI.

He said both the injured were evacuated to medical facilities but succumbed to injuries.

The firing from across the border in violation of the ceasefire agreement prompted a strong and effective retaliation by the BSF, the officer said adding cross-border firing spread to Kanachak and Khour areas as well and was going on when last reports came in.

A police official said nine civilians and a policeman were also injured in the Pakistan shelling and were evacuated to hospital.

He identified six of the injured persons as selection grade constable Zakir Khan, Sulakshana Devi (25), Bansi Lal (40), Balwinder Singh (22), Sudhakar Singh (50) and Vikram Singh (34).

On May 29, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed to "fully implement" the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit" forthwith to stop border skirmishes in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two military commanders reviewed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control (LoC) as well as the International Border (IB) in the state during a conversation over the hotline. The special hotline contact between the two commanding officers was initiated by the Pakistani DGMO.

Following the conversation between Indian DGMO Lt Gen Anil Chauhan and Pakistan's Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the two armies issued identical statements saying both sides agreed to implement the 15-year-old ceasefire understanding.

Today's unprovoked firing by Pakistan raised the number of deaths due to ceasefire violations along the International Border and the Line of Control in the state to 46. The dead includes 20 security personnel.

Last month, thousands of people residing along the International Border in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts had to leave their homes after unprovoked and indiscriminate firing, and intense shelling from Pakistan between May 15 and May 23 which left 12 people dead. These included two BSF soldiers and an 8-month-old baby.