In a first, woman intruder killed

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 24

The Border Security Force (BSF) last night shot dead a woman intruder in Pargwal sector on the International Border (IB).

Sources said despite being challenged a number of times, the intruder did not stop heading towards the IB, forcing the BSF to open fire. It was only after retrieving the body that her gender was known. This is for the first time that a woman intruder has been shot dead on the IB.

On February 21, the BSF had shot dead a terrorist in the Keri area of Rajouri sector. The BSF also apprehended a Pakistani national while crossing the IB near the Paharpur border outpost in Hiranagar sector.

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On the intervening night of February 23 and 24, BSF troops of 97 battalion observed suspicious movement close to the Paharpur border outpost. They challenged the intruder, but he did not pay heed to the warnings and kept heading forward. The troops then apprehended the youth, who was later identified as Azhar (21) of Nallian village in Narowal district. He seemed to be mentally unsound.

Meanwhile, the BSF and Pakistani Rangers today held a Commandant and Wing Commander-level flag meeting at the Border Post No. 15 on Indian request in the Kathua sector. The Pakistani delegation was headed by Wing Commander Lt Col Asmat Ullah Khan, while the Indian delegation comprised Commandants Bhupinder Singh and K Ganesh and five others.

“The Indian team raised issues like firing on BSF troops from the Pakistan side, repeated objections raised by Pak Rangers as regards maintenance work on the Indian side, and hunting by Pakistani nationals close to the border area.” the BSF PRO said.

Pak Rangers reportedly assured the Indian side that they wanted to maintain good relations with the counterpart border guarding forces and such meetings should be arranged more frequently in bordering areas.

“The Pakistan Rangers also raised objections such as burning of ‘sarkanda’ which, they said, spread to their side and damaged telephone wires, etc.” he added.