Heavy firing at India-Pak border

[Ruag]

Heavy firing at India-Pak border, army on alert

AMMU: The Indian Army was put on alert following heavy exchange of fire at the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir early on Tuesday following a major infiltration bid, defence sources said on Tuesday as the country celebrated its 61st Republic Day.

The firing, at the Kanachak sector near Akhnoor, 30 km northwest from here, started at 2 a.m. and went on four hours. Officials said Pakistani Rangers provided covering fire to a group of infiltrators. The BSF men retaliated and the guns fell silent around 6 a.m.

The Indian Army has been put on alert along the border, where the first line of defence is provided by the BSF.

Army sources said troops were put on alert after the fire started from Pakistani side. They described the firing as heavy and said it was a clear attempt by Pakistan to push terrorists into India on Republic Day.

The exchange of fire was heavy for about two hours initially. "Thereafter, it was intermittent firing that lasted till 6 a.m.," Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda told reporters.

It was the 15th ceasefire violation incident and infiltration attempt from across the border this month.

"Pakistan is desperate to push terrorists to the Indian side," a senior army official said, adding that they wanted to strike on India's national day and were unhappy with the peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Heavy firing at India-Pak border, army on alert - India - The Times of India

 

[Ruag]

India 'foils border infiltration bid' in Kashmir

Indian security forces say they have foiled an attempt by militants to infiltrate the international border in Indian-administered Kashmir.

They said there was an exchange of fire in the Jammu region and the intruders ran back into the Pakistani territory.

Security is tight across the state of Jammu and Kashmir as India celebrates Republic Day on Tuesday.

A high state of alert is in place and the mobile telephone services have been jammed in the Jammu region.

Indian officials say there have been several attempts by militants to cross the border since the beginning of 2010.

Tight security

Officials of India's Border Security Force (BSF) said a patrol party near Alfa Machail area, about 35km (20 miles) west of Jammu city, noticed the infiltrators on early Tuesday morning.

"This resulted in an exchange of fire which continued for more than an hour," an official told the BBC.

"After which the intruders ran back into Pakistani territory," he said.

The area has been cordoned off and a search was going on.

A senior police officer in Jammu said: "We have a three-tier security in place all across the region with special focus on vulnerable points."

The main Republic Day function is being held in Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, the winter capital of the state, where Governor NN Vohra will hoist the Indian flag and take the salute.

Meanwhile, all mobile phone services are jammed in the Jammu region.

Officials said "it had been done keeping security concerns in mind".

The government of India recently lifted the ban on pre-paid mobiles in the state which was imposed three months ago because the authorities said the "militants were misusing the pre-paid mobiles".

BBC News - India 'foils border infiltration bid' in Kashmir

 

[brahmastra]

good to hear that no life was lost.

 

[Kinshuk]

I hope nothing wrong happens today. God bless humanity.