BSF’s hands tied, can’t cross IB to avenge constable’s killing

JAMMU: Even as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has told the BSF Director General (DG) to take the strongest action against Pakistan, BSF’s hands are tied and its troops can’t cross the International Border (IB) to act against the Pakistan Rangers.

BSF men patrol the area along the International Border in the Jammu region. Tribune file photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 23

Even as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has told the BSF Director General (DG) to take the strongest action against Pakistan, BSF’s hands are tied and its troops can’t cross the International Border (IB) to act against the Pakistan Rangers.

They are restricted to only shelling and firing when provoked by the Pakistani troops.

“The BSF hasn’t moved beyond the Zero Line on the IB to act inside the enemy territory. This time also there may not be any action like the surgical strikes conducted by the Army along the Line of Control (LoC),” said a BSF officer posted along the IB in the Jammu frontier.

Unlike the LoC, the population along the IB in the Jammu frontier is significant in number and any action involves the civilian population also. On both sides of the IB, villages are situated up to the Zero Line.

“Our plan will be to retaliate the firing and shelling from the other side and incur maximum damage. We have proved this time every time. When the Pakistan Rangers provoke the BSF, they face strongest retaliation possible. If they fire one shell, we bombard them with 100 shells,” he said, maintaining, “When we retaliate, the Pakistan Rangers are forced to call for a truce.”

The chorus of teaching Pakistan a lesson is growing since September 18 when a BSF head constable was mutilated by the Border Action Team (BAT) from Pakistan. In response, Rajnath told the BSF to go hard against the Rangers and take strongest possible action.

The incident took place a day after Rajnath Singh’s visit to Jammu to inaugurate two pilot projects of smart fence under the comprehensive integrated border management system. The projects were aimed at putting an end to infiltration from Pakistan side.

Take strongest possible action: Rajnath

New Delhi: Following the killing of a BSF head constable by Pakistani troops, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had, on September 20, told the BSF to take strongest possible action against the Pakistani troops. The BSF man’s throat was slit and his body bore multiple bullet injuries. The missing trooper was found killed by the Pakistani troops in the Jammu region, in a first-of-its-kind barbaric act against the Indian forces along the International Border. Another official said the BSF was expected to take some a “pro-active” action against the Pakistan Rangers to “avenge” the killing. PTI