NEW DELHI: Border Security Force Director General KK Sharma on Friday submitted a report to the Union Home Ministry on the spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the International Boundary and targeting of civilian areas during the last 10 days.
According to data shared by the BSF to the Union Home Ministry, three BSF personnel have been martyred and injury to similar number of personnel due to heavy shelling and sniper firing by the Pakistani forces. Three civilians have been killed and 25 injured due to the unprovoked firing by the Pak forces. As many as 25 livestock were killed and 100 injured in the Pakistani firing from October 19 to 28. The shelling has also damaged crops along the areas along the IB and a number houses and structures have also been hit and damaged.
Fifty eight ceasefire violations have been reported after the surgical strikes on September 28/29. Till so far this year, 115 ceasefire violations by Pakistan have been reported. Last year, the figure was 150. As many as 70 youths are missing which could be an indicator that they might indulge in suicide attacks on Army or security forces’ installations.
The Pak forces have intensified shelling after the BSF killed seven Pakistan Rangers personnel and a terrorist on October 21. During the last 10 days, the BSF has killed 15 Pak Rangers in retaliatory firing and foiled a number of infiltration bids by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Apart from the Pakistan Rangers, the Pak establishment has deployed 700-strong Special Service Group comprising mostly snipers, sources said.
Sharma has apprised Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisory Ajit Doval on the situation along the IB. The Government has already issued a standing instruction to effectively repulse any infiltration bids by the Pakistani terrorists counter forcefully ceasefire violations from across the border.
Meanwhile, Singh, in his address at the 55th Raising Day Parade at Greater Noida, said the neighbouring country is indulging in a proxy war by using terrorism. “The neighbouring country has been carrying out proxy war. But terrorism is not a weapon of brave but of cowards. Those who fight from behind are called cowards. They take help of terrorism to target us and damage our economy.”
| In his address at the ITBP function, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh border guarding troops deployed at posts above 9,000 feet will be decorated with “high altitude medal” in recognition of their services in treacherous terrain difficult weather conditions. The minister said a policy decision has been taken by his ministry to honour the valour and commitment of duty by such force’s personnel. The personnel of Sashastra Seema Bal and Border Security Force will also be entitled for medals. The forces had earlier demanded instituting such a medal to boost the morale of the forces’ personnel. |