BSF trooper killed in Pakistani firing in Jammu

JAMMU - A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was Monday killed in firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, an Indian Army official said.

The trooper Shurvir Singh was hit by a bullet and died on the spot in Sabzian sector of Poonch district, about 240 km north-east of Jammu. Pakistani troops opened fire on the Indian positions around 11.30 a.m. The firing was retaliated by the BSF.

“This was a brazen case of ceasefire violation,” a spokesman of the Indian Army told IANS.

Early Monday, there was an exchange of fire between the BSF and either militants or Pakistani Rangers in Kanachak sector near Akhnoor along the international border.

After noticing some movement near the border in Kanachak sector, about 35 km west of Jammu, a BSF patrol party opened fire. This led to retaliation from the Pakistani side.

“We are not sure if the fire that came from Pakistan was by Pakistani Rangers or a group of militants trying to infiltrate into the Indian side,” a BSF official said.

Visibility was poor due to fog. However, once daylight broke the BSF personnel found that the barbed wire fence erected on the Indian side to check infiltration from Pakistan “was cut at two points”.

“Militants were taking advantage of the thick fog along the international border,” the BSF official said.