3 Pakistani Rangers killed in retaliatory firing along Jammu border: BSF

NEW DELHI: The Border Security Force (BSF) said on Saturday that it has killed at least three Pakistani Rangers personnel in retaliatory firing after a unprovoked ceasefire violation at Sunderbani in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir."Today Pakistan resorted to unprovoked to ceasefire violation and fired four 51mm mortar and two 81mm mortar shells towards the forward Indian posts in Dewra village of Rajouri's Sunderbani district," a BSF spokesperson said, adding that the jawans retaliated strongly and shot dead at least three Pakistan Rangers.The force also said it is "engaged in a befitting retaliation" after the Rangers began unprovoked firing in the Pargwal area of Jammu since around 3 PM.Earlier in the day, the force said, at least half-a-dozen mortar shells were fired from across the border and they exploded in the Dewra village of Sunderbani sector along the IB."The force retaliated strongly during cross-border firing and shot dead at least three Pakistan Rangers," a Border Security Force (BSF) spokesperson said.Yesterday, a BSF jawan, constable K K Appa Rao, was hit by a sniper round in the RS Pura sector when the Pakistani side took a direct aim at him.Rao, who was drinking water, got hit just below his right ear."Constable Rao was operated upon last night and is stable now," the spokesperson added.Officials said such a hostile action between the two sides along the IB has been witnessed after a long time.The two border guarding forces, on July 17, had held a Commandant-level flag meeting in Samba sector along the IB and "committed" themselves to maintaining peace.In the flag meeting, the two sides had agreed to re energise instant communication between field commanders, whenever required, to resolve petty matters.Incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan have increased sharply this year.Till August 1, there were 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to the Army figures.