Kashmir: BSF trooper killed after ceasefire violation by Pakistan

Border Security Force trooper Nitin Subhash was killed on Saturday in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani forces in northern Kashmir’s Macchil sector along the Line of Control, the de-facto border between India and Pakistan.

A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed in an accident while retaliating to a ceasefire violation by Pakistani forces in northern Kashmir’s Macchil sector along the Line of Control --- the de-facto border between India and Pakistan, authorities said on Saturday.

Border Security Force men carry out a vigil near the International Border in RS Pura Sector in Jammu.(PTI File)

BSF constable Nitin Subhash sustained grievous injuries on Friday evening when an explosion inside the chamber of the long-range weapon led to a recoil, BSF IG (Kashmir) Vikash Chandra said.

“Subhash was injured due to recoil and was admitted to a medical facility where he succumbed late last night,” the official said.

The BSF soldier’s death came less than 24 hours after an Indian Army soldier was killed in Macchil, where the army foiled an infiltration bid and gunned down a militant.

The army said militants had mutilated the soldier’s body before withdrawing into the Pakistan side. Sources said the militants, who attacked 12 Indian posts, beheaded the soldier. In a brief statement, the army also said an “appropriate response” will be given.

The 28-year-old Subhash, who was a resident of Sangli in Maharashtra, had joined the BSF in 2008 and is survived by his wife and two sons aged four years and two years. Four army and three BSF personnel have died in the latest escalation along the boundary with Pakistan in militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir.

Relations between India and Pakistan have hit a new low after four militants attacked an Indian Army base in northern Kashmir’s Uri in September, killing 19 soldiers . India blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault, a charge Islamabad promptly denied.

On Saturday, Pakistani forces resorted to heavy shelling targeting civilians and BSF posts along the International Border in Hiranagar sector and RS Pura in the Jammu region as well, police said.

“Around 6am, the Pakistan Rangers resorted to heavy mortar shelling and automatic gunfire. The BSF has started retaliating effectively,” police said.

The fresh firings came a day after the BSF claimed 15 Pakistani soldiers could have died in its retaliatory firing in the past week, a claim dismissed as baseless by Islamabad that said six of its civilians died in Indian firing on Thursday.

Civilians continue to be in the firing line on the Indian side as well. A woman and a 15-year-old boy were killed in Jammu and Kashmir when Pakistan targeted Indian posts and villages along the LoC on Friday.

On Friday, heavy shelling took place in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts and in Mendhar and Macchil sectors.

(With agency inputs)