SRINAGAR: Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday said that its jawans foiled a major infiltration bid along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district overnight.
It said a group of four to six militants sneaked into J&K after targeting a BSF vehicle with rifle fire and rocket propelled grenades in Kathua’s Bobiya area shortly before midnight. The men onboard the vehicle which was patrolling the area at the time of the infiltration bid and also other BSF jawans guarding the IB retaliated leading to exchanges which continued for over 20 minutes.
The BSF said that the Pakistan Rangers also opened indiscriminate fire towards the Indian positions apparently to provide covering fire to the infiltrating militants.
The officials said that the militants escaped and were seen carrying an injured with them.
Earlier the Pakistan troops resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing at Tarkundi and Manjakote in Bhimber Gali sector along LoC in J&K’s Rajouri and Poonch districts.
They not only did open fire at forward Indian positions, some civilian areas were targeted too resulting in panic among the residents. The officials said that the Pakistan army used 82 mm mortars and automatic weapons.
The Indian troops retaliated with same calibre weapons, the officials said adding that heavy exchange of shelling and firing that lasted for around three-and-half hours. No casualties were reported, however.
Line of conflict
More than 29 ceasefire violations by pakistan along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after surgical strikes
Oct 19: Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Rajouri-Poonch sector of J&K, shelling Indian positions with mortar bombs and automatic arms
Oct 18: Pakistani troops fired from small arms and shelled mortar bombs on forward posts along the LoC in Rajouri district
Oct 16: Pakistani troops violated ceasefire twice in Naushera and Rajouri sectors in which one jawan was martyred.
Oct 8: Ceasefire violation at forward Indian posts along Mendhar-Krishnagati sector in Poonch district
Oct 5: Pakistani troops violated ceasefire thrice and resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling in three sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts
