India maintains ceasefire sanctity, Pak never: BSF

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 13

The Border Security Force on Wednesday accused Pakistan of not honouring the agreement made between Directors-General of Military Operations of the two countries on May 29 to fully implement the 2003 ceasefire pact on the International Border.

Kamal Nath Choubey, Additional Director General, Jammu Frontier, BSF, talking to the media after the wreath-laying of the martyred soldiers, said: “Ceasefire is always a bilateral decision, we have always maintained the sanctity of the ceasefire, but Pakistan has always violated it. The decision was meant to be honoured, but Pakistan didn’t.”

He said Pakistan was violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control repeatedly, but India had never done so.

“Due to the experience with Pakistan, the BSF is always prepared for retaliation. There is no let-up in border surveillance, neither during ceasefire nor other times,” the ADG said.

“Every instrument required to protect the territorial integrity of the border is maintained,” he added.

Earlier, the wreath-laying ceremony was organised at Frontier Headquarters of the BSF at Jammu to pay tributes to the four personnel. The cremation of the martyrs will be done at their respective hometowns. The ADG said the nation would remain indebted to the brave border men for their supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty.

The wreath-laying was attended by legislators Bali Bhagat, Chander Prakash Ganga and Gagan Bhagat, DGP SP Vaid and other senior officers of the BSF, police and the administration.

BJP making forces ‘sitting ducks’: Cong

Jammu: The killing of four BSF soldiers on the border evoked a strong reaction from opposition parties, which are accusing the ruling BJP of making security personnel “sitting ducks” to reap political benefits. “Pakistan’s repeated treacherous acts during Ramzan shows that it is taking advantage of the fact that the Narendra Modi-led government lacks a clear policy to deal with it effectively and silence it in an appropriate manner to maintain peace on borders,”a J&K Pradesh Congress Committee statement said.  

Mehbooba pays tributes to martyrs, calls for peace

Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed deep anguish and grief over the death of four BSF personnel, including an officer, in Pakistani shelling in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district on Wednesday. Paying tributes to the slain personnel, the CM reiterated her demand for cessation of hostilities along the borders to protect lives and properties of border people. She said the suspension of operations elsewhere in the state had given the people a sigh of relief and hoped the same would be extended to the borders and an atmosphere of peace would return to these areas. The CM extended her sympathies to the bereaved families while praying for peace to the departed souls.