BSF trooper killed on Kashmir border, tensions up

JAMMU - Another Border Security Force (BSF) trooper has been killed in firing from across the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, the second incident of ceasefire violation, official sources said Wednesday.

The Pakistan Rangers opened fire at the Indian border post of Chag Phagwari in Akhnoor, 45 km northwest of Jammu, at 11.30 p.m. Tuesday, killing BSF constable Hari Prasad.

Early Tuesday, another BSF trooper, head constable Sultan Ali was killed at the Chak Sagwali post in Pargwal area in Pakistani firing.

Firing from Pakistan, in violation of the November 2003 ceasefire agreement, has become a regular feature, experts said, adding that tensions at the border were high.

“Although we had tried to tell Pakistanis at a flag meeting yesterday that their actions were creating an hostile environment on the borders, yet they repeated their hostile action Tuesday night,” a BSF official told IANS.

A.K. Surolia, the inspector general of BSF, Jammu Frontier, said they were trying out to find a motive for the frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

“This is quite unfortunate,” Surolia told IANS. “It runs against our efforts to maintain peace on borders.”

Pakistani troops, officials said, were also violating the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

They had fired on Indian positions in Krishna Ghati sector in Mendhar area of Poonch district, 210 km north of Jammu, Tuesday evening.