Pakistani mortar shell recovered near India-Bangladesh borders in Bengal’s Cooch Behar
When one of the construction workers first noticed the shell, he mistook it as some ordinary explosive and panicked.
After a lull of about three months, Pakistan Rangers once again targeted Indian positions in the Samba sector on Tuesday, killing a BSF jawan at the Manguchak border observation post on the International Border (IB).
The constable, identified as Davender Singh Baghel, was hit by a bullet from across the IB and was rushed to the military hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Advertisement
Pakistan Rangers resorted to firing at Indian positions at 11.30 pm and intermittent exchange of fire was continuing till this afternoon, said a BSF officer.
Advertisement
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after BSF noticed suspicious movement of a group of five terrorists and attempting to sneak into this side, along the IB in Hiranagar sector of the contiguous Kathua district, prompting a massive search operation and sounding of a high alert in Jammu.
The infiltration bid and firing by Pakistan Rangers also come close to the visit of Prime Minister Narendera Modi to Jammu on 19 May when he is likely to visit the agriculture university just near the border.
The IB in the districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua had witnessed heavy shelling by Pakistan Rangers earlier this year when several civilian and BSF troopers lost their life. However, the IB was quiet after a couple of sector-level flag meetings between the officers of BSF and Rangers.
Army helicopters were maintaining vigil in the area to prevent any infiltration till last reports came in.
A ceremony was held later in the day to pay tributes to the martyred BSF jawan. BSF Director General KK Sharma laid a wreath on Baghel’s body.
Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, J&K DGP SP Said and BSF IG Ramawtar were also present, among others, at the wreath laying ceremony.
Advertisement
