BSF protests ceasefire violation by Pak Rangers

The Border Security Force has lodged a strong protest with Pakistani troops at a flag meeting over ceasefire violations during the past two days by firing on outposts along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu sector, in which a jawan was killed.

"BSF authorities lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Rangers over the two incidents of ceasefire violations and firing on Indian posts during the past two days," a senior BSF officer said.

The protest was lodged at a commandant-level flag meeting held for nearly an hour at Octerio border outpost in Jammu's Suchetgarh sub-sector on Sunday evening.

In the two recent ceasefire violations, Pakistani troops fired on Indian positions in Nikowal and Budhwar forward belts in R S Pura sub-sector along the International Border in Jammu sector on May 14 and 15, in which a BSF jawan was killed. In the strong-worded protest, BSF authorities asked their Pakistani counterparts to honour the ceasefire agreement and not resort to unprovoked firing.

The BSF officials told them that troops on this side would also retaliate if Pakistan Rangers fire on their positions. The rangers, however, expressed ignorance over the incidents of firing.

Pakistani troops violated ceasefire on Sunday and opened unprovoked firing on Indian BOPs in Nikowal belt of R S Pura sub-sector which lasted over 45 minutes. The BSF returned the fire and there were no casualties on the Indian side, an official said.

On Saturday night, Pakistani snipers fired on a BSF patrol in Budhwar area in Suchetgarh sub-sector along the international border, 45 km from Jammu, killing a jawan.

There have been five instances of truce violation by Pakistani soldiers in less than a month. On May 5, Pakistani troops fired rockets and opened indiscriminate firing on Indian positions in Poonch sector along the Line of Control. Two more such incidents took place in Poonch on April 22 and 24.