Pakistan intensifies shelling across LoC

BOP REAR KAKKAR (PAKISTAN BORDER ): The Border Security Force (BSF) has said that it has witnessed movement of UAVs very close to the Indo-Pak border recently, even

BOP REAR KAKKAR (PAKISTAN BORDER ): The Border Security Force (BSF) has said that it has witnessed movement of UAVs very close to the Indo-Pak border recently, even as Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu region yet again.

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“We have noticed UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) coming 100 metres up to the border... maybe 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 KK Sharma told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, at the border outpost of Rear Kakkar in Punjab, a Pakistani boat that strayed into Indian waters of the Ravi river was seized by Indian troops. There was nothing suspicious in the boat that had a Pakistani flag.

As news of the capture spread, Pakistani Rangers disclosed in a flag meeting with the BSF that it was their boat and belonged to the Balam post. They claimed that the boat accidentally strayed into Indian waters due to sudden rise in the Ravi’s water level. The BSF will hand over the boat to their counterparts on Wednesday.

Continuing their attack against India, 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 Naushera belt, PRO Defence, Col Manish Mehta, said in Jammu. Indian troops returned the fire, he said, adding that unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan started again in Naushera and KG Sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts from 5pm. Firing stopped at KG Sector at 8pm but intermittently continued in Naushera sector and the troops were responding to it.

Rifleman Dharender Bisht of 2/9 Gurkha Rifles was injured in the firing in Bhudwaal forward post in Pallanwala sector of Akhnoor.

In New Delhi, IAF’s Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha described the situation as “live”. At the annual press conference ahead of 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.

(With agency inputs)