Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Ceasefire in tatters as four BSF men killed in Pak firing

Asst commandant from Rajasthan among those dead in Samba attack

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU: Four Border Security Force men, including an assistant commandant, were killed and three seriously injured in firing by Pakistan Rangers along the Internatio­nal Border near the famous Chamliyal shrine in Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba district, a BSF officer said on Wednesday.

The BSF accused Pakistan of betraying the Indian side by not honouring its truce commitment made at the recent DGMO- level talks on May 29 that was followed by a sector commander -level flag meeting earlier this month.

“They first fired two mortars that landed on our party followed by firing. It happened around 9.45 pm on Tuesday night. We have retaliated and other action is in the pipeline,” said BSF Jammu frontier inspector general Ram Awtar. “Four BSF men have made supreme sacrifices in the line of duty,” he said.

Those men killed in the attack were identified as assistant commandant Jitendra Singh, assistant sub-inspector Ramniwas and constable Hansraj, all from Rajasthan, and sub-inspector Rajneesh Kumar, a resident of Etah in Uttar Pradesh.

Eleven BSF troops have been killed in cross-border firing incidents along border in the state this year, the most losses the border guard has suffered in a year since 2013, latest data reveals.

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed anguish over the deaths of the four BSF personnel, and reiterated her demand for cessation of hostilitie­s along the borders to protect lives and properties of border people.

CEASEFIRE CALL TODAY

A final decision on the commenceme­nt of counter-insurgency operations in J&K is likely to be taken by the Centre during a security meeting held at the ministry of home affairs on Thursday, senior government officials said.

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 ?? PTI ?? BSF men pay tributes to their four colleagues at a wreathlayi­ng ceremony in Jammu.
PTI BSF men pay tributes to their four colleagues at a wreathlayi­ng ceremony in Jammu.

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