BSF lodges protest with Pak over firing at border

The border observation post of BSF in Sambha sector in this region came under heavy firing on Thursday night from the Pakistani side following which the force on Friday lodged a strong protest with Pakistani Rangers.

The incident took place at 2230 hours when a BoP of 112 battalion of the BSF came under intense fire from Pakistani side, official sources said.

Giving details, they said that an ambush party of BSF detected a group of intruders trying to infiltrate into Benglard on Thursday and they opened fire to foil the bid.

Another support party of the intruders resorted to firing on BoP to save the intruders and the exchange between two sides continued for about 15 minutes, they said.

The suspected militants fired nearly 1,000 rounds and hurled 16 grenades at the BSF post, they said.

There were no immediate reports of causality from the Indian side, which retaliated, the sources said, adding there was no evidence so far of direct involvement of Pakistani rangers in the incident.

"BSF authorities met their counterparts at company commander level flag meeting at Bangalard border out post this morning and lodged a strong protest with them over heavy firing at the post," BSF sources told PTI.

During the meeting, which lasted for about fifteen minutes, BSF company commander gave details of the firing pattern from Pakistani side on its BoP while the Pakistan authorities denied their involvement and blamed the infiltrating militants for it, they said.

While BSF raised the point of violation of the Indo-Pak border truce, Pakistani rangers denied it, they added.

Another flag meeting at the DIG level is slated to be held on Friday afternoon at Octerio BoP in R S Pura border belt of Jammu district, in which formal protest letter would be written to Pakistani rangers over the incident, they said.