In yet another violation of the ceasefire, the armies of India and Pakistan exchanged heavy fire along the International Border in Samba district in which four BSF troopers, including an officer have been killed, reported the Press Trust of India.
Three others have been wounded.
This is the second major ceasefire violation along the IB this month and came despite Director General Military Operations (DGMO) of the two countries agreeing, on May 29, to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in “letter and spirit” and asector commander-level (BSF DIG-Rangers Brigadier) meeting on June 4 to ensure peace by “holding fire” along the IB.
“Pakistan Rangers initiated cross border firing along IB in Ramgarh sector last night. We have lost four of our personnel, including an assistant commandant rank officer, while other 3 of our personnel suffered injuries,” IG, BSF (Jammu Frontier) Ram Awtar told PTI.
He said Pakistan Rangers and the BSF had recently agreed to ensure ceasefire along the IB but the former violated it by initiating cross-border firing.
In a tweet, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid expressed his condolence over the incident.
In Ramgarh Jammu sector of IB , 4 BSF personnel were martyred including one Asstt Commandant & 5 injured due to firing from across. Our heart goes to those who lost their dear ones.
— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) June 13, 2018
The firing in Chamliyal post area of Ramgarh sector started around 10.30 pm yesterday and continued till 4.30 am, a police official said, requesting anonymity.
He said it was not immediately clear whether the BSF personnel were killed last night or in the wee hours today. The BSF troops also fired in retaliation, the official said.
On June 3, two BSF personnel, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector, were killed and 10 persons, mostly civilians, injured in heavy shelling and firing along the IB in Pragwal, Kanachak and Khour sectors.
The latest casualties take the number of those killed in ceasefire violation along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) this year to 50, including 24 security personnel.
On May 29, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed to “fully implement” the ceasefire pact of 2003 in “letter and spirit” forthwith to stop border skirmishes in J&K.
The move was hailed by both the United States and China.
Even the Resistance Leaders had welcomed the step. Chairman of the Huriyat (G) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had said that such a decision will at least provide a huge sigh of relief to the people on both sides of LoC, who otherwise become the first casualty of the border hostilities between Indian and Pakistani army.
Recently, just hours after a flag meeting between the armies of India and Pakistan in which they agreed to maintain peace along the border, both exchanged fire in the Akhnoor sector.
