India responding to LoC aggression; 15 Pak soldiers killed in a week

As military confrontation increased on the border, two civilians were killed in Jammu region of India in cross-border shelling and firing overnight even as the Border Security Force on Friday claimed to have killed 15 Pakistani soldiers over the last one week.

The BSF, which primarily guards the International Border with Pakistan, said it had also foiled two infiltration bids in Samba district two days back. Besides, BAT (Border Action Team) attacks from Pakistani side along the Line of Control have also been thwarted during the past 24 hours.

Firing mortar shells and using automatic weapons, Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas and forward security posts along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

"At 1720 hour yesterday (Thursday), Pakistan Rangers started unprovoked heavy firing and shelling in Kathua sector of Jammu which further spread to Hiranagar and Samba. It continued till 0500 hours today in the area of 24 BSF posts," a senior BSF officer said.

"In the Pakistani shelling, one civilian died in Khour belt of Pallanwala sector on Friday," Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said, adding another civilian was injured in R S Pura sector.

Similarly, one woman Usma Bi, aged 50 years, was killed in shelling by Pakistan on Gohlad village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district on Friday, Defence spokesman said.

Another civilian was injured in area, the reports said.

BSF Additional Director General Arun Kumar said as per the ammunition used, it seems Pakistani Army Army is backing the Rangers and has taken over the posts of paramilitary force, which is further cause of escalation.

Kumar, who laid wreath at the moral remains of the BSF martyr Head Constable Jitendra Singh in Jammu, said "they (Pakistani side) are resorting to heavy firing and shelling and we are giving them befitting reply."

He said the BSF has inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani side.

"As far the number of casualities on other side is concerned, which our men have seen through our eyes and instruments, 15 Pakistani soldiers have been killed after the sniping incident of Constable Gurnam Singh (on October 21)," he said. Gurnam was injured in the sniper firing and then succumbed to the injuries.

"They (Pakistani side) have suffered damage but are hiding them in public domain and they do not accept it. Last night we have destroyed their OP (observation post) towers and some OP towers caught fire due to our firing," Kumar said.

He said Pakistani Rangers, Pakistani regulars and civilian population on their side have suffered heavy damage because of the Indian retaliation.

"The damage to civilian population is much more (than us)... We have seen large number of ambulances coming and picking up injured. They have been making announcements from mosques asking people to assemble for last rites. All that points that they suffered a lot," the BSF officer said.

"Their (Pakistani) OPs (observation posts) have been raised to the ground. Their civilian population has also been hit. We do not fire on populations," the BSF ADG said.

"We have lost three jawans. Two of our jawans are injured. One civilian has lost his life and 15 are injured," he added.

Giving further details about the Pakistani regulars backing Rangers in firing, Kumar said, "the arms and ammunition they fire at us, it confirms that Pakistani regulars have taken over as posts and are supporting Pakistani Rangers... 120 mm mortars are being used which we take a clue that regulars are supporting them."

He said heavy firing and shelling is taking place for the last one week since the death of Gurnam in sniper fire.

"On 19-20 October night when they (Pakistani troops) forced militants to infiltrate to this side, and later the next day sniped our Constable Gurnam Singh, since then the incident of firing and shelling have increased by them and we are giving befitting reply," he said.

The ADG said that in the process BSF lost third man.

"It is a sad moment for us that we have lost 3rd jawan in the firing last night, Head Constable Jitendra Singh, who was on duty, when a stray bullet hit his lever resulting in his death," he said.

"We want peace to prevail... But if they (Pakistan) violate ceasefire, we will be forced to give a befitting reply," BSF officer said.

He added, "There have been two infiltration bids by armed militants a day before. We had seen the movement of the militants and resorted to firing forcing them to flee." The infiltration bid was foiled in Samba district along IB.

"They (Pakistani forces) is engineering infiltrations (of armed militants)," Kumar said.

The ADG said, "We are cautious. They may try again. Winter is coming. So the infiltration bids in the coming time will be more but we a ready to foil them."

To a question regarding the BAT (Border Action Team) attacks from the Pakistani side, the ADG said, "during the last 24 hours, action of BAT teams have taken place on the LoC. On the LoC they have resorted to BAT actions and they have been given befitting answer. There have been no BAT action of IB so far."