Assistant Commandant among 4 BSF troopers killed in Pak firing on J&K border

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 13

An Assistant Commandant was among the four BSF troopers killed and three others injured on Wednesday in ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers on the international border in Samba district.

The three junior officers and the Assistant Commandant were killed in unprovoked shelling and firing by Pakistan Rangers targeting Baba Chamliyal outpost in the Ramgarh sector early on Wednesday, BSF sources said.

The Pakistan Rangers started unprovoked firing on Border Out Post (BOP) Chamliyal in Samba district on Tuesday night at around 10.30, which lasted till 2 am.

According to BSF officials, the Pakistan Rangers initiated cross-border firing along the IB in Ramgarh sector on Tuesday night.

The BSF has lost four personnel, including an assistant commandant rank officer, while the other three soldiers suffered injuries and under treatment at Military Hospital in Jammu.

The deceased have been identified as Assistant Commandant Jatinder Singh, Sub Inspector Rajesh Kumar, ASI Ram Niwas and Constable Hans Raj.

All the soldiers were of 62 Battalion of the BSF. Sub Inspector Zantal Sil, Constable Sujan Dass and Constable Vikas Kumar were injured in the firing and are under treatment at Military Hospital in Jammu.

This is the second violation of ceasefire after Indian Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Anil Chauhan and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza held a special talk and decided to “fully implement the 2003 ceasefire” on May 29.

On June 3, Pakistan had resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing using long-range guns to directly target forward BSF posts and civilian areas in Pargwal and Kanachak sectors in Jammu district in which two BSF jawans were martyred and 16 people--15 civilians and a police constable--were injured.

The Pakistan ceasefire violation has happened days before the annual 'Urs' (festival) at the Baba Chamliyal shrine in the Ramgarh sector.

Traditionally, each year on Urs at this shrine, Pakistan Rangers pay obeisance and offer a 'chaddar' as a token of reverence. BSF troopers serve 'sherbat' to Pakistan Rangers at the shrine. The annual Urs is scheduled for June 26.