Jammu and Kashmir: Security forces thwart infiltration bid in Keran sector, one terrorist killed

Security forces on Sunday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara’s Keran sector as they killed one terrorist. One AK-47 and four magazines were recovered from the dead terrorist.

A group of terrorists were noticed by a joint team of Army and BSF attempting to infiltrate in Keran Sector, official sources said.

"When challenged and asked to surrender, they opened fire. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gun battle, one infiltrator was killed," they said.

Additional security forces also rushed to the spot and the area was sealed to stop any further attempts.

Meanwhile, Union minister Hansraj Ahir on Sunday said the government would be "constrained" to revoke the Ramzan ceasefire it had announced last month if Pakistan continued to indulge in cross-border firing and terrorism. 

"We will be constrained to revoke the ceasefire agreement," the minister said at a press conference at the Government Guest House in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. 

Earlier on Sunday, Pakistani troops targeted the Indian posts and villages again along the IB in Akhnoor sector. Two BSF personnel were killed, including an officer.

The violation comes around a week after DGMOs of both Pakistan and India agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in ‘letter and spirit’.

The ceasefire violation by Pakistan after the recent DGMO level talks between New Delhi and Islamabad again proves that the neighbouring country's words do not match its deeds, said BSF Jammu frontier IG Ram Awtar.

“It is saying something but doing something else. The latest incident proved it once again,” he said.

Awtar said the BSF was strictly implementing the decision taken at the DGMO level by the two countries last week.

“Suddenly, Pakistan started firing around 1.15 am, injuring two of our personnel who later succumbed,” he said referring to the latest incident. It was targeted firing on forward duty points by Pakistan, he added.

Awtar added that BSF did not target civilian locations but Pakistani forces did.       

We only targeted the locations that targeted us but Pakistan, on the other hand, started targeting civilian areas of Pragwal and Kanachak since wee hours resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civil property, Awtar said.

“There is a need to study this case thoroughly. After every incident we do a detailed study and accordingly take precautionary measures for the future. This incident of cross-border firing will be probed as well,” the BSF IG said.