Four BSF personnel killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along international border

Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and five others injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border (IB) in Ramgarh sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on Wednesday.

“Pakistan Rangers initiated cross-border firing along IB in Ramgarh sector last night. We have lost four of our personnel, including an assistant commandant rank officer, while other 3 of our personnel suffered injuries,” PTI quoted IG, BSF (Jammu Frontier) Ram Awtar as saying.

The unprovoked Pakistani firing came days after BSF and Pakistani Rangers had agreed to ensure the ceasefire along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir. On May 29, a BSF DIG and Rangers Brigadier had met and agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in “letter and spirit”.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid expressed his condolence over the killings of BSF troopers in firing from across the border.

“In  Ramgarh Jammu sector of IB , 4 BSF personnel were martyred including one Asstt Commandant & 5 injured due to firing from across. Our heart goes to those who lost their dear ones,” Vaid tweeted.

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At around 10:30 pm Tuesday, Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing from across the border in Chamliyal post area of Ramgarh sector in Samba district. The intermittent firing continued till 4:30 am on Wednesday morning, a police official said, according to PTI.

Jammu: Wreath laying ceremony of BSF's Assistant Commandant Jitendra Singh, Sub Inspector Rajneesh Kumar, ASI Ramniwas and Constable Hansraj Gurjar who lost their lives today in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Chambliyal sector of Samba. pic.twitter.com/RCUPHxtnEL

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2018

Reacting to the death of four BSF jawans, ADG Kamal Nath Choubey said that while India maintained the sanctity of ceasefire, Pakistan has violated it.

"We are always prepared, ceasefire or no ceasefire there is no let up in border surveillance. Every instrument required to protect the territorial integrity of the border is maintained," Choubey said.

This was the second major violation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement by Pakistan along the IB in the month of June.

Earlier on June 3, two BSF personnel were killed and 10 others, mostly civilians, injured in heavy shelling and firing by Pakistani Rangers along the IB in Pragwal, Kanachak and Khour sectors.

So far in 2018, as many as 50 people, including 24 security personnel have been killed in the ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the IB and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Click Here To Read This News In Hindi 

(With inputs from agencies)