BSF SOLDIER CRITICAL AFTER PAK SNIPER FIRE ALONG BORDER

JAMMU: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was critically injured in sniper firing by Pakistani Rangers along the international border in Ar ni a of RS Pu ra sector of Jammu district on Friday. 92nd Battalion’s constable KK Apparao, deployed at Budhwar post, was hit on the head by sniper fire around noon, an intelligence official said.

A BSF officer confirmed the incident and said the jawan was hospital is ed in Jam mu and is stable. The BSF did not retaliate. It has been learnt that B SF Jam mu frontier IG Ram Awtar and DIG D harm ender Pareekh visited forward areas in Arnia and other sectors on the international border to take stock of the situation.

Minister of state for home affairs, Hans raj Gang ar am Ah ir, had visited Ch am li ya lb order outpost in Ramgarh area of Samba sector on Thursday to take stock of the prevailing security scenario on the border.

On July 17, the BSF and Pakistan Rangers had held a command ant-level flag meeting in Samba sector along the international border and “committed” themselves to maintaining peace.

In the flag meeting, the two sides had agreed to re-energise instant communication between field commanders, whenever required, to resolve petty matters, a BSF official had said.

“They committed to each other to maintain peace and tranquillity at the international border,” the official had added.

Two days back, senior Army commanders of India and Pakistan also held a flag meeting on the LoC in Poonch sector in J&K and agreed to institute mechanisms for durable peace and tranquility on the border.

The year has seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Till August 1, there were 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year.

IN THE FLAG MEETING ON JULY 17, THE TWO SIDES HAD AGREED TO REENERGISE INSTANT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FIELD COMMANDERS, WHENEVER REQUIRED