Pak troops violate truce again, two BSF personnel killed

Nearly a week after the DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in ‘letter and spirit’, Pakistani troops again targeted Indian posts and villages along the IB here, killing two BSF personnel, including an officer.

The heavy firing and shelling from the Pakistani side for almost 12 hours in Pragwal area of Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors of Jammu district ended 12 days of lull in the border skirmishes, also leaving 14 people, including two BSF jawans, a policeman and two women injured, officials said.

The shelling was so intense that the deafening sound of mortar shell explosions was even heard in the Jammu city, residents said.

The Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing by targeting forward duty points at the International Border (IB) in Pragwal around 0115 hours, causing critical injuries to Assistant Sub-inspector SN Yadav (48) and constable VK Pandey (27), Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, Ram Avtar said. He said both the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to injuries.

The firing from across the border in violation of the ceasefire agreement prompted a strong and effective retaliation by the BSF, Avtar said.

He said the Pakistani troops also targeted civilian areas in Kanachak and Khour sectors besides the forward posts.