Pak smugglers injure 3 BSF jawans

DAOKE (INDO-PAK BORDER): Three Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured when smugglers from across the border fired at their duty vehicle along the IndoPak border in the Daoke region, 30km from Amritsar.

The incident that took place around 1 am on Saturday is seen as a retaliatory attack by the Pakistani smugglers after the BSF troops gunned down three smugglers a few days back.

Officiating deputy inspector general (BSF) IP Bhatia said: “A BSF duty vehicle had gone to the border area to drop jawans for the change of duty. As the vehicle entered the Daoke post area, Pakistani smugglers opened indiscriminate fire leaving three jawans injured. The smugglers used AK-47 assault rifles and 16 empty shells were found from the spot. The BSF jawans also fired six-seven rounds in retaliation.”

The BSF was, however, quick to give a clean chit to Pakistan Rangers even as the smugglers fired at the troops just 30 yards from the fence. The BSF said the smugglers were here probably for a drug or ammunition deal with their Indian counterparts.

The BSF jawans injured in the incident have been identified as constable Mahender Boro (driver), constable Rakesh Kumar and constable Nagendra Kumar. While Rakesh received a bullet injury in his thigh, two other jawans were hit by splinters in their back. They were rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where their condition is said to be stable.