Pak intensifies crossborder shelling as BSF sees UAVs near LoC, seizes Pak boat

Ceasefire violated six times in 36 hours while BSF spots Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and a Pak boat strays into Indian waters

The BSF has said that it has witnessed movement of UAVs very close to the Indo-Pak border recently even as Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Jammu region yet again.

Punjab police officers inspect the area near Rear Kakkar post in Amritsar sector after a Pakistani boat (inset) was seized by the BSF from the Indian waters of the Ravi river on Tuesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)

“We have noticed UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) coming 100 meters up to the border...may be they (Pakistani forces) want to check our preparedness but I can assure you that we are fully capable of giving a befitting reply,” BSF Director General K K Sharma said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Sharma added there is “tension” at the international border that runs along Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Meanwhile at the border outpost of Rear Kakkar in Punjab, a Pakistani boat that strayed into Indian waters of the river Ravi was seized by Indian troops.

The boat only had a Pakistan flag in it and there was nothing suspicious in it. But taking no chances the BSF and the Punjab Police started a search operation along the river banks to determine whether the boat was part of an infiltration bid.

Read | As top leaders join hands, Pak media says ‘united we stand’ on Kashmir issue

“We cannot say right now was this boat part of an infiltration bid or not as the search is still on,” DIG BSF J.S. Oberoi said.

A view of river Ravi across the fence near BOP Rear Kakkar post in Amritsar, through which the Pakistani boat entered Indian territory on Tuesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)

Meanwhile, Pakistani troops targeted Pallanwala sector, violating the ceasefire for the sixth time in the past 36 hours by shelling and firing on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Rajouri districts in Jhangar, Kalsian and Makri sub-sectors of Noushera belt, PRO Defence, Col Manish Mehta said in Jammu.

Indian troops returned the fire, he said.

In New Delhi, IAF’s Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha described the situation as “live”.

Read | Russia backs India’s surgical strikes, says Uri ‘terrorists’ from Pakistan

At the annual press conference ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8, Raha sidestepped questions about the surgical strikes.

“I think I should not say anything because it is very sensitive and things are still live,” he said.

He said the IAF has the power to punish its enemy, but a decision for an offensive role has to be taken by the government.

(With Rahul Singh and agency inputs)