Ahead of Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks beginning this Thursday and just a day after killing two civilian porters employed by the Army in Machil sector in Kashmir, Pakistan troops on Monday breached truce yet again on the second consecutive day. This time they targeted Indian forward Abdullian post and Casper vehicle of BSF in R.S. Pura sector in Jammu district.
For the first time following ceasefire agreement, the civilian population too was targeted by Pakistan troops, thus creating panic in the area. The firing claimed a fatal bovine casualty while two other bovines sustained injuries. However, one of owners of these bovines had a narrow escape.
Confirming the incident as a ceasefire violation, DIG BSF J.S. Oberoi, while talking to media, however denied that any BSF personnel were trapped on the Zero Line in the wake of Pak firing.
“This is simply absurd to say that,” he asserted. Giving sequential account of the incident, DIG Oberoi maintained, “At 4.05 am, few Anti-National Elements (ANEs) from Pakistan side targeted BSF mobile patrolling party at Abdulian post. Our jawans retaliated, firing towards the direction of ANEs. Yet few minutes after our Abdullian post was under heavy fire from three posts of Pakistan viz., Kunjpur, Swargpur and Bhanote Tekri. It was retaliated from our side with light arms fire.”
While Indian officers raised the issue of ceasefire violation, Pakistani Rangers in turn passed the buck to them and accusing them of initiating unprovoked firing.