BSF lodges protest with Pak Rangers over unprovoked firing

The Border Security Force has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Rangers for unprovoked firing, ceasefire violations and construction of a tunnel into Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector from across the border.

The protest was lodged at a flag meeting held at Garkhal forward post along the International Border in Samba on Tuesday in which the BSF was represented by Commanding Officer Vijay Paul Singh and Pakistan was represented by 24-Chinab Rangers Lt Col Shahid Raja.

"We have lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Rangers at a flag meeting over several incidents of unprovoked firing, ceasefire violations and construction of underground tunnel into Indian territory from across the border", a senior BSF officer told PTI.

The BSF officer said that the Indian side expressed dissatisfaction over the tunnel issue and the unprovoked firing on forward posts along Indo-Pak border.

"They (Pak Rangers) denied having constructed an underground tunnel into India -- they also said that have no role in the firing", he said. Pakistan rangers also raised objections over the tunnelling work close to the zero-line on Indo-Pak border during the flag meeting.

Pakistan troops violated ceasefire and targetted Indian posts along the Line of Control twice in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on September 10 in Nangi-Tikri forward areas of along LoC in Poonch sector.

There was firing of rocket projectile grenades and 600 rounds of light machine guns (LMGs) and other weapons from Pakistan from 11.15 pm late Tuesday night and continued till 11.45 pm besides during the day.

There were 17 firings and ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops after the detection of 550-meter long tunnel on July 28 and subsequent lodging of a strong protest over the issue on July 31.