JAMMU, Oct 21 - The BSF today said it had killed seven personnel of Pakistani Rangers and a terrorist while retaliating to a ceasefire violation on the international border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir in which one BSF jawan was injured.
Pakistan Rangers, the border force of Pakistan, resorted to sniper attacks at Indian posts at Hira Nagar in Kathua at around 9:35 am, the BSF said.
The Indian border guarding force launched an aggressive offensive against the Pakistani firing, the BSF said in a release, adding, seven Rangers and a terrorist were shot dead in the retaliatory firing.
Seeking to suggest that the killings had been corroborated by Pakistani media, the BSF said �source input� claimed that a media organisation in that country was running a news item about death of five Rangers.
The strong response by the BSF came after one of constables Gurnam Singh was injured in a sniper fire attack by Pakistani Rangers this morning in the same area. Singh, whose condition is considered to be critical, was evacuated with the cover fire to the Government Medical College, Jammu.
This firing from Pakistan was effectively retaliated and that has claimed the casualties of Pakistani forces, the release said.
Today�s exchange of fire came a day after BSF foiled an infiltration bid by 4-6 militants, aided by cover fire by the Pakistani troops, in Bobiyan village of the same Hira Nagar sector. At least one militant was injured or killed in that action by the BSF during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday as he was seen being dragged by his associates.
Earlier in the day, BSF Inspector General (Jammu) Frontier DK Upadhyaya said the ceasefire violations by the Pakistani Rangers had taken place in two sectors. There were two ceasefire violations by the Pakistani Rangers in Bobiya in Hira Nagar sector of Kathua district and Pargwal belt of Akhnoor sector of Jammu district today.
�We are replying in a befitting manner. We have inflicted heavy losses to them,� he said, adding, troops are on alert and mechanism is put in place to foil any attack by Border Action Teams (BATs) of Pakistan.
�You cannot take any chances. The guard is up. Troops are alert and vigilant and keeping a close watch. It is because of this alertness that we have foiled the infiltration bid,� the IG said.
�Yesterday night fire was expected and they have retaliated and in this, one of our jawans has been injured. But we have also given the befitting reply and effected heavy losses on them,� the BSF official said.
�Jammu is their main target to do some damage over here, which we will not allow. The morale of troops is very very high,� he said. � PTI
