BSF personnel carry the mortal remains of BSF head constable Lal Fam Kima during a wreath laying ceremony at BSF's Paloura Camp in Jammu, Thursday, Nov 9, 2023. (PTI) 
India

First casualty of Indian soldier in Pak shelling after 2021 truce

It is paddy harvesting time. We fear that the Pakistani troops can target us if we go near our fields at the border.

Fayaz Wani

SRINAGAR: A BSF jawan was killed after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at BSF outposts along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district on Thursday. Head constable Lal Fam Kima sustained splinter injures and was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Kima is the first Indian soldier to be killed by Pakistan shelling since the ceasefire came into effect in 2021. Kima, 50, hails from Aizwal in Mizoram. He is survived by his wife and three children.

DG BSF Nitin Agarwal said the border guards gave a befitting response to ceasefire violation and there are reports of heavy damage on the other side. Pakistan has been escalating ceasefire violations, he told reporters. Pakistan has violated the ceasefire at least two-three times now, he added.

The firing has shattered peace and calm along the frontiers and caused panic among the border residents. “We are now scared of going to our fields near the border. It is paddy harvesting time. We fear that the Pakistani troops can target us if we go near our fields at the border.

We will wait for a few days to assess the situation before going to our fields,” said a border resident. They said the Pakistani firing has taken place when the harvest season was about to begin. Earlier on October 26, a BSF jawan and a woman were injured in Pakistani shelling in Arnia and R S Pura sectors. 

Plea in SC seeks action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged unilateral ECI decisions on SIR

EC postpones CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s youth outreach programmes in UP amid poll panel row

Congress holds nationwide protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation; Gaurav Gogoi detained

Another harassment video surfaces from Bihar’s Mandar Hill; third such incident in a week

Cross-border attack: Four Nagas killed by alleged Myanmar-based Kuki rebels in Manipur