BSF kills 7 Rangers in return fire , Pak denies

The BSF on Friday said it had killed 7 personnel of Pakistani Rangers and a terrorist while retaliating to a ceasefire violation on the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir in which one BSF jawan was injured. Pakistan Rangers, the border force of Pakistan, resorted to sniper attacks at Indian posts at Hira Nagar in Kathua at around 9.35 am, BSF said.

The Indian border guarding force launched an aggressive offensive against the Pakistani firing, BSF said in a release, adding seven Rangers and a terrorist were shot dead in the retaliatory firing.

However, the Pakistan Army claimed that there was no loss of life on its side in firing at the border, contradicting the BSF's assertion that it had killed 7 Pakistan Rangers personnel and a terrorist while retaliating to a ceasefire violation on the International Border.

"Indians resorted to unprovoked fire/shelling on working boundary in Shakargarh sector on Friday. Pak Rangers befittingly responded. No loss on Pak side," Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted. "Indian claim of hitting or killing any Pakistani soldier/Ranger with firing at anytime of today at LOC/working boundary absolutely false," he said.

The exchange of fire came a day after BSF foiled an infiltration bid by 4-6 militants, aided by cover fire by the Pakistani troops, in Bobiyan village of the same Hira Nagar Sector. At least one militant was injured or killed in that action by BSF during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday as he was seen being dragged by his associates.

Earlier in the day, BSF Inspector General (Jammu) Frontier D K Uphadayaya said the ceasefire violations by Pakistani Rangers had taken place in two sectors.

There were two ceasefire violations by Pakistani Rangers in Bobiya in Hira Nagar sector of Kathua district and Pargwal belt of Akhnoor sector of Jammu district today. "We are replying in a befitting manner. We have inflicted heavy losses to them," he said. He said troops are on alert and mechanism is put in place to foil any attack by Border Action Teams (BATs) of Pakistan. "You cannot take any chances. The guard is up. Troops are alert and vigilant and keeping a close watch. It is because of this alertness that we have foiled the infiltration bid," the IG said.