JAMMU/NEW DELHI:Barely 24 hours after agreeing upon a set of confidence building measures (CBMs), including a total ban on firing mortar shells along the border, Pakistani troops fired mortar bombs along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir killing a BSF officer.
“There was a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops this evening ... on forward posts along the LoC in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district,” a senior BSF officer confirmed late Sunday evening, a day after the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers agreed to uphold the sanctity of ceasefire during the DG-level talks in Delhi. The Pakistani troops fired two 82 mm mortar bombs, which exploded near a forward Indian Post in which one assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of BSF sustained severe splinter injuries around 6.20 p.m. He died a little later. He was identified as Sohan Lal from Rajasthan.
There have been 15 ceasefire violations along the border this month alone. The latest provocation came amid indications that both sides would follow a set of CBMs within a fortnight to end the repeated ceasefire violations. Several CBMs were discussed at the three day-long meeting of the Director General of the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers’ Chief in New Delhi.
According to sources, both decided to enhance communication channels by getting in touch over the fastest modes of communication like mobile phones, fax and email and ensure that they alert the other side with a precautionary illumination fire if either side detects something suspicious along the International Border (IB). It was also decided to ban the firing of mortar shells along the IB in Jammu and Kashmir. The bi-annual border talks have taken place after almost a gap of two years.
Two Civilians Hurt in blast along LoC
Two civilians were injured in a suspected blast along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night. There was a suspected blast on a track along the LoC in Poonch district in which two civilians were injured, a defence spokesman said.