Pak violates ceasefire within hours of flag meeting

Jammu, Aug 28: Hours after a flag meeting between BSF and Pak Rangers to defuse tension, Pakistani troops again violated the ceasefire by firing on forward Border Out Posts (BoPs) and civilian areas along the International Border in Jammu's Akhnoor sector.

"There was firing by Pak Rangers on BoPs and civilian areas in Devora forward belt in Pargwal sub-sector of Akhnoor teshil around 2315 hours last night", a police officer said today.

The firing continued till 1145 hours, he said adding there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing. Three to four posts were targeted in the Pakistani firing. The bullets hit two houses in the village but people escaped unhurt, he said.

The BSF troops retaliated to the Pakistani firing. Later the Rangers opened small arms and medium machine gun (MMG) fire at three BSF posts in Pargwal sector at 1.50 AM. After some time, the firing stopped, only to resume at 4 AM.

The ceasefire violations by Pak Rangers came barely seven hours after the conclusion of the commandant-level flag meeting at Nikowal Border Out Post (BoP) in Pargwal sub-sector. However, the borderline in Arnia, R S Pura, Kanachak, Ramgarh, and Gajansoo sub-sectors along IB, which witnessed over 45 days firing, remained clam for the third night without any firing by Pak troops.

"There was no firing in Arnia and R S Pura belt", Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), R S Pura, Devender Singh said. This is 24th ceasefire violations in the month of August. Two villagers have been killed and 17 others including 4 BSF jawans suffered injuries in the ceasefire violations. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit the border ares tomorrow to take stock of the situation at the ground level.

PTI