Pak rangers fire at BSF post, India retaliates

The incident occurred around 6.45 am. On Thursday evening the same post, known as Nikowal border post, was attacked from the Pakistani side in which two BSF personnel sustained injuries. The BSF men returned the fire. Details about Pakistani casualties were not known.

On Friday morning a high alert was sounded along the affected border area. Fearing an infiltration bid by militants, the security and police authorities have tightened the security arrangements. Last year the militants, after infiltrating from the international border (IB), had carried out two suicidal attacks in Jammu region.

To prevent re-occurrence of such incident, BSF and police immediately swung into action. Besides increasing the vigil, special check points were also set up along the border. “The security and police personnel are asking the local people to cooperate and inform them about the movement of any suspected person. The vehicles are being stopped and checked. The drivers and passengers are being frisked and their identity cards checked,” said Ramesh Kumar, a resident.

Infiltration ruled out

He added that police had told the public not to touch any abandoned vehicle or object and to pass on the message to cops or security men. Panic had gripped the area following reports that militants have sneaked in.

But the BSF personnel during inspection found the three-tiered barbed wire fence intact. “The wire being intact rules out any infiltration by militants. Usually the militants cut the wire on the fence to enter into Indian side with Pakistani troops providing cover with firing,” said a BSF official.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jammu, Manohar Singh, said the vigil by police would continue as they are not ready to take any chances. “We are ready to face any challenge and the people have been asked to remain vigilant and cooperate with us,” he added. According to him, in the afternoon the firing stopped.