BSF jawan killed in Pak firing in Samba, 3 Pak posts damaged

A BSF trooper was killed as Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing on border out posts in Samba sector along the International Border in Jammu district on Wednesday.

A police official said that Constable Tapan Mondal of 173 Battalion BSF was critically injured when Pakistani troops fired near the Manguchak post around 9.30 am.

The trooper, who was hit on the head, was immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

The official said that the soldiers manning the fence retaliated and gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani firing.

Mondal (25) hailed from Murshidabad district in West Bengal and is survived by his mother.

On Tuesday, a teenage girl was injured after the Pakistan army fired using small arms along the Line of Control in Poonch district. Ceasefire violations and sniper attacks by Pakistani troops are on the rise over the past several months.

As many as 600 ceasefire violations have been reported till the start of this month, in which nine civilians and 16 security personnel have lost their lives. The number of violations was significantly less at 228 for the entire 2016, according to figures released by the army.

Due to the rising tensions between the armies of the two countries, the cross-LoC bus and trade services between Poonch-Rawalakot route has remained suspended since July 10. Residents of Poonch, engaged in barter trade between the two sides, have claimed that they suffered an estimated loss of Rs 63 crore following the trade suspension.