Ceasefire violation: BSF jawan killed in Pakistan shelling along International Border in Samba

Jammu: After a day’s lull, Indian and Pakistan border guards again traded small arms and mortar fire along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba and Kathua districts on Monday, leaving one Border Security Force (BSF) jawan dead.

BSF and police officials in Jammu said that the Pakistan’s Chenab Rangers resumed targeting BSF’s Border Outposts (BoPs) and Civilian areas with heavy mortar fire and small and medium weapons at 2 AM, killing the BSF jawan (constable) Davinder Kumar. “He was posted at Khora BoP in Samba sector when hit by a Pakistani shell,” A BSF spokesperson said adding that the fresh violation of November 2003 ceasefire agreement by Pakistan Rangers triggered another round of heavy exchanges as the BSF responded with similar calibre weapons.

Read: Stop firing, says India after ‘relentless’ Pakistan continues ceasefire violations

One BSF jawan was killed in the shelling, he said, adding the force is also strongly retaliating back. The deceased has been identified as Constable Davinder Kumar who was at Khora BoP post in Samba sector, a Police officer said.

Four jawans and a woman were killed in Pakistan shelling and firing during the last one week, officials said, adding, five Pakistani rangers and a girl were killed in retaliatory firing.

In Sialkot, Pakistani officials alleged that the BSF “unleashed” a barrage of gunfire and mortar shelling at Shakargarh sector of the Sialkot, killing a woman and injuring four other civilians. They added that the Chenab Rangers responded “befittingly” to the firing. The intermittent exchange of fire was underway as reports last came in.

Scared villagers running for refuge due to ceasefire violation in Samba (J&K) https://t.co/ntWM3x8Crl

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 5, 2015

In view of the escalation all along the IB in which the civilian areas have repeatedly come under attack, the authorities have ordered that all government and private educational institutions in Hiranagar and Marheen zones shall remain closed from January 6 till further orders. “The examinations and assessment papers scheduled for this period shall be treated as postponed and fresh date shall be notified separately,” DC Kathua Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

Read: Sushma Swaraj writes to Sartaj Aziz, dismisses Pak allegations on ceasefire violations

Since December 31 when the latest bout of cross-border firing and shelling with intervals started, two BSF jawans and a woman have been killed and nearly a dozen people, mainly civilians, injured on the Indian side of the IB called working boundary by Islamabad. While the BSF claims it has killed as many as eight Pakistani border guards in retaliatory firm, the neighbouring country’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has confirmed the death of only two of its Punjab Rangers and that of a 13-year-old girl on their side of the border.