Pak ultra killed as BSF foils intrusion bid in Kathua

JAMMU: A Pak militant was killed by BSF in Kathua district across the border with Pakistan when a six-member militant team tried to infiltrate into the Indian territory on the intervening night of October 19 and 20 at around 11.55pm.

Less than four hours later, Pakistan army resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing at Tarkundi and Manjakote in Bhimber Gali and Balakote sectors along the Line of Control in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. In the wee hours, they targeted civilian areas as well, leading to panic among the people, Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

“The mortar fire stopped at 3.30am, but attacks using small arms and automatic weapons lasted till 7 am,” he added. Earlier, an attack in Bobbiyan area of Hiranagar sector on the International border in Kathua district began at 11.55pm on Wednesday, with men from Pakistan side using automatic weapons fired. “They also shot two mortar bombs,” a senior BSF officer told HT. “We retaliated and forced the Pakistanis to stop the fire. It continued for five minutes.”

“Subsequent checking revealed it was an infiltration bid by six terrorists,” he said, adding that Indian side suffered no injuries.

BSF Jammu frontier IG DK Upadhyaya, who rushed to the spot in Bobbiyan on Thursday, said,“Around 11.55pm on Wednesday night, a group of six heavily-armed ultras, who wanted to sneak into the Indian territory, fired upon a BSF patrolling van. They also fired two RPG shells.”

The BSF personnel immediately took positions and retaliated the fire compelling the ultras to retreat to Pakistan, he said.