Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Growing infiltrations: BSF warns Pak Rangers of 'counter-action'

December 23, 2009 19:36 IST
Taking a tough stance over continued firing, ceasefire violations and infiltration bids from across the International Border, Border Security Force on Wednesday warned Pakistan Rangers of 'counter-action.'

BSF also lodged a strong protest over the fifth incident of firing and infiltration bid on International Border at Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"A flag meeting was held with Pakistani rangers in Ramgarh forward belt along IB on Wednesday in connection with Tuesday's cross-border firing and infiltration bid. We registered a strong protest with them," Deputy Inspector General BSF Frontier Jammu, G S Sagwan told PTI.

A commandant level meeting was held at Ramgarh forward Border Out Post for an hour on Wednesday.

"We have told them there would always be a counter-action The release of Pakistani fishermen in Indian custody, whose nationality has been verified by the Pakistani High Commission in India, is also being processed," the statement said.

Authorities in Malir Jail in Karachi, where the fishermen are being held, began making preparations to send them by bus to Lahore this morning though formalities for their repatriation had not been completed.

When their travel was delayed, some of the fishermen protested, TV news channels reported.

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani decided to release the fishermen as a humanitarian gesture after consulting foreign secretary Salman Bashir.

Blaming Pakistani Rangers for supporting infiltration bid, Sagwan said, "BSF officers have told their counterparts to stop infiltration bids and cross-border firing, if they want us not to open firing in such a situation."

The BSF DIG further said that Pakistani side showed their ignorance to the incidents and denied their involvement as they have doing it in the past.

"But we have made it clear to them, if such incidents are repeated, we will be forced to open fire and take counter-measures," he said.

Cross border infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir is on the rise with militants making 433 such attempts this year, nearly 90 more than last year. As many as 106 militants infiltrated this year.

A BSF patrol party noticed some movement of militants at three posts - Kandral, S M Pur and S M Pur-one - in Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba and challenged the militants during pre-dawn time yesterday.

On December 21, BSF had also foiled infiltration bids of militants under the cover of Pak firing triggering panic on IB at three BoPs of Bobiya and Londi in Kathua district and Chandma in Samba district.

On December 20, one BSF jawan was killed and two others injured, when militants opened firing on Kranti Forward Defence location along Line of Control in Pooch district.

There have been 28 incidents of such ceasefire violations till November 25 by Pakistan along the Line of Control.

During the last four years, there were 129 incidents of ground ceasefire and 43 air space violations by Pakistan.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.