Misguided shots by Pak Rangers land in Pathankot village

Tension prevailed at Plaha village in Pathankot district on the Punjab-J&K border after two LMG shots fired by Pakistani Rangers hit two houses. However, no casualty was reported.

Tension prevailed at Plaha village in Pathankot district on the Punjab-J&K border after two LMG shots fired by Pakistani Rangers hit two houses. However, no casualty was reported.

About 3pm on Monday, villagers woke up to some murmur to find a bullet piercing into the wall of the house of Arjun Singh, while another lying on the ground after hitting the house of Karam Singh.

A police team led by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Parbhjot Virk rushed the spot and collected the bullet shells. They advised the villagers to maintain their calm as those were the misguided shots.

DSP Virk told HT: “It has been learnt that about 3pm on Monday, the Pakistani Rangers started firing in Paharpur village in the Samba sector in J&K and in the course two Light Motor Gun bullets landed in Plaha also.”

Meanwhile, Balbir Singh, a Border Security Force (BSF) officer who heads this border area, claimed: “In Punjab, it’s International Border with Pakistan, which has been calm so far. The bullets can be misguided shots.”

“As per an agreement between the two countries, firing on the International Border will be considered as a declaration of war, said the BSF official, adding, they are on high alert as the firing is taking place on the Line of Control (LOC), which is very close to them.

“The border is clam and the situation under control; however, the locals must stay calm and follow the advice given by the BSF and police,” he concluded.

Villages such as Jaidpur, Khudaipur, Paharipur, Kajle, Lashian, Bamial, Kashi Barma, Simbal Sangol, Dhinda and Bhopalpur are very close to the International Border and always remain on high alert when the LoC is tensed.