Warning that the 24-hour long lull on the border can take "any turn any time", the Border Security Force on Sunday said that it was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality and any border build-up by the Pakistani side on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Yes, there is lull on the IB for the past 24 hours. We have no doubt that this peace can take any turn any time and we are fully prepared.
"If they try to do anything they will be given a befitting reply. We are fully prepared for that," Additional Director General BSF Western Command, Arun Kumar told media persons on the sidelines of the wreath laying ceremony for Gurnam Singh, who succumbed to injures at a hospital in Jammu after he was injured in a sniping incident on the International Border in Kathua sector on Friday.
The BSF said the infiltration attempt, which was foiled by Gurnman and his other colleagues, had the support of the Pakistan Rangers.
"Absolutely that is on record and we have seen though our surveillance equipment as how they (Pakistan rangers) have given protection fire to get the people infiltrated into our border and how our men repulsed that," Kumar said.
To a question on the BSF claim of having gunned down seven Pakistani rangers and a terrorist in retaliatory fire, the ADG said, "See as far as the number of people killed (are concerned) there we cannot be fully sure, but as we have a close border and we have equipment with which we can see on the other side we have seen several people being hit and falling".
He said the Pakistan side has been given a befitting reply and if they dare to target any BSF jawan they will have to pay a heavy price for that.
On the Line of Control, Kumar said there have been continuous incidents of ceasefire violations and BSF under the able guidance of the army are repulsing such incidents.
"But this was for the first incident after the Uri attack, that they tried to infiltrate through the international boundary and we gave them a befitting reply," he said.
He said that on the intervening night of October 19 and 20, Pakistan tried to push in some terrorists using fire power and the same was given a befitting reply by the alert BSF jawans led by Gurnam Singh because of which the infiltration bid was foiled and one terrorist was killed.
"The next day sniping was done from the Pakistani side on the same place where Gurnam Singh was standing and he was targeted and the bullet hit him in the head, we wanted to evacuate him, but because of heavy fire we faced some problems.
"We retaliated and shifted him to GMC and every possible treatment was given to him and air ambulance was also kept ready to shift him, but sadly we lost him during the night," Kumar said.
He said that Gurnam has made a supreme sacrifice for the nation and the BSF and the entire nation was proud of him.
Photograph: Reuters