Pakistan resorts to shelling, India retaliates; 2 Rangers killed

JAMMU: Pakistan Rangers on Friday night yet again violated the ceasefire with heavy firing on forward outposts along the international border in Samba and Kathua sectors, drawing a strong retaliation from the BSF which killed two Rangers.

The Kathua district administration sent alert to officials concerned in 57 border villages late Friday night. BSF sources said the firing started from Regal post in Samba sector and spread to G Coy Suchetpur, C Coy, Peetal Post, Chilayari, Dhandhar and Panser posts across the sector while unprovoked firing started in Kathua sector as well.

"Pakistan fired small arms and mortars, and targeted the forward BSF posts and villages," sources said, adding the BSF troops responded "effectively" to cross-border firing with similar calibre weapons resulting in heavy exchange of fire along the border.

Commenting on recent ceasefire violations, BSF IG (Jammu Frontier) Rakesh Kumar Sharma during a wreath-laying ceremony had said there would be no compromise and a befitting reply would be given to Pakistan firing but we would not initiate the "first-fire".

A BSF jawan was killed and another injured in three days in cross-border firing. Meanwhile, the Kathua adminstration has sounded an alert, advising border villagers to keep lights off and to remain indoors. Deputy commissioner Kathua Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said, "Evacuation will be initiated early morning."

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