Indian soldier killed in Kashmir border firing

[Roby]

Indian soldier killed in Kashmir border firing

SRINAGAR: An Indian soldier was killed on Monday in cross-border firing in Kashmir, the latest in a spurt of violence in the disputed region that has raised tensions with Pakistan, officials said.

The incident comes two days after India said rockets were fired from Pakistani territory. At least seven militants have been killed in separate gun battles, and multiple infiltration attempts foiled by troops in the last week, police say.

Monday's incident was the first time in six months that an Indian soldier has been killed in border firing.

“There was an unprovoked firing from across the border in Poonch area, we lost one BSF (Border Security Force) jawan (soldier),” Vinod Sharma, a spokesman for the border guards said.

India accuses Pakistani troops of cross-border firing to help militants cross the disputed border to join the 20-year revolt in Kashmir and violate a 2003 agreement reached between the two armies. Islamabad denies the charge.

Indian police and security experts say violence may go up in Kashmir because hundreds of Pakistan-based militants may have sneaked into India in the past few months.

“It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to create trouble in Kashmir as India is cutting troops and the general feeling is the situation is getting more and more normal in Kashmir,” said Naresh Chandra, a former Indian envoy to Washington.

India said last month that it is gradually cutting around 30,000 troops in Kashmir and handing over law and order to police as incidents of violence have gone down.

Officials say tens of thousands of people have been killed since a revolt against Indian rule broke out in 1989.

 

[Roby]

Trooper Killed In LoC Rocket Attack; High Alert Sounded

Jammu, Jan 11: Troops along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir have been put on high alert after reports of an increase in infiltration attempts into the state. A Border Security Force personnel was killed and a porter injured in a rocket attack on a forward Indian post from across the border in Poonch sector, while an infiltration bid was claimed to be foiled in Kanachak area of Akhnoor on Monday.
Defence sources told Greater Kashmir that a rocket was fired from across the border at around 11:30 am towards Kanari post in Swunjian sector today. The rocket landed near the post killing a trooper of 86 BSF, deployed in the area, and injuring a porter.
Identified as Constable Shurvir Singh the BSF trooper was reportedly standing outside the post when the rocket was fired.
However, contrary to the reports from the defence sources in Poonch, army officials in Jammu claimed that the trooper was killed when Pakistani army opened fire on the BSF post.
“It was a clear ceasefire violation by Pakistan army”, defence spokesman Lt Col Biplab Nath. He said that small arms fire was opened from a Pakistan post which lasted for around a minute.
“Troops manning the post on our side observed complete restrain and did not responded,” he said adding, “We are taking up the matter of ceasefire violation at an appropriate level.” Meanwhile, BSF claimed to have foiled an infiltration bid in Kanachak sector of Akhnoor sector.
A BSF spokesman said that a group of militants tried to infiltrate to this side of border during the wee hours today. However, the troops deployed at Alpha Mizail Post challenged the armed militants leading to a brief exchange of fire, he said adding the militants managed to escape taking cover of darkness.
“However, the role of Pakistan Rangers in the firing incident can not also be ruled out”, sources said adding the troopers also noticed barbed wire fence cut at two points.
“There are intelligence reports of further increase in the cross-border infiltration attempts. Troops have been put on high alert along the Indo-Pak border and have intensified round-the-clock patrolling,” security officials said. They said 1,000 to 1,200 militants are staged along the border in launching pads to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.
In view of the foggy conditions, troops have been setting up more ambushes and intensified patrolling round the clock, they said. Police have also activated Border Village Defence Committees as another tier of security and are keeping a close watch inside the border belts.
There were three infiltration bids, which were foiled by the forces along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) in less than a week.
The first infiltration bid in this year was foiled by BSF at Narianpur Border Out Post in Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba district on January 4.
It was followed by another infiltration bid along Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote area of Poonch district on January 8.
A patrolling party of BSF also foiled another infiltration bid after a brief gunfight when militants after cutting the fence had come inside in the forward area of Garkhal in Pargwal belt of Akhnoor tehsil in Jammu district on Saturday.
Information from various security agencies involved in security grid in the state has put the figure of infiltration attempts at 433 in 2009, 91 attempts more than 2008. According to the police, 342 infiltration attempts were made from across the border in 2008, while 2007 and 2006 reported 535 and 573 such attempts along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir.
Confirming surge in infiltration, state Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda told PTI that measures have been taken by security forces to foil these bids and it is an area of concern at a time when violence has gone down in Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to cross-border infiltration, General Officer Commanding, 16 Corps, Lt Gen Rameshwar Roy had told reporters last week that there has been an increase in infiltration attempts but their crossing into the state across the LoC has not increased.

 

[gogbot]

how many terrorists can they have, we've been shooting them for 20 years don't they run out people at some point.

I mean not everyone is ignorant enough to take up Extremist ideals

I mean 1200 staged across the border that's more than the number currently in Kashmir right now.

 

[TOPGUN]

how many terrorists can they have, we've been shooting them for 20 years don't they run out people at some point.

I mean not everyone is ignorant enough to take up Extremist ideals

I mean 1200 staged across the border that's more than the number currently in Kashmir right now.

And who is THEY? shine some light on it !

 

[DesiGuy]

And who is THEY? shine some light on it !

i think he means zardari!

 

[PAFAce]

I highly doubt the death was as a result of Pakistani Army firing. It is irresponsible to say something like that without proof in such a toxic environemnt when both countries are on edge and emotions are running high. It took one trigger-happy depressed individual to spark off the First World War, hence we should all be a lot more careful with what we say.

Indian police and security experts say violence may go up in Kashmir because hundreds of Pakistan-based militants may have sneaked into India in the past few months.

That's funny, because according to a BSF commander, one of the two fighters killed recently was a Kashmiri native to IHK. I think this should be changed to "Pakistani backed militants", not "based".

I mean not everyone is ignorant enough to take up Extremist ideals

No, not everyone. However, unfortunate as it may be, many young men see no other way. See, violent revolt began after 1987; that's 40 years after partition, four decades of relatively peaceful struggle. Young men were attracted to violent revolt because they couldn't get much accomplished in the first 40 years when they tried political avenues, but instead got massive election rigging and suppression. With violence, they got not only the world's attention, but the GoI stepped up efforts in the region. Everytime the BSF knowinly or unknowingly kills a teenager or a woman, public opinion turns even more sour. It's like quicksand, the only way you can get out is if you turn public opinion massively, which, by the way some of your countrymen speak, seems impossible.


But, it is nevertheless sad to hear about the BSF soldier. He probably had family too, didn't deserve to die uselssly.

 

[Creder]

how many terrorists can they have, we've been shooting them for 20 years don't they run out people at some point.

With a little more thought you will find the answer within your question... How long can you shoot militants or terrorists for ? ...not very long I'd say...unless they are not terrorists but people who actually want freedom, which is the fundamental right that has been denied to these people. Twenty years is a long time to realize that if you want to realize it, but if you don't then you should stop counting as well.. You can kill a terrorist but a man who fights for his freedom..he lives on and there will be 20 willing to take his place and for years to come.

 

[RobbieS]

That's funny, because according to a BSF commander, one of the two fighters killed recently was a Kashmiri native to IHK. I think this should be changed to "Pakistani backed militants", not "based".
.

With all due respect, I disagree with you over here. "Based" doesnt necessarily mean that the militant in question belonged to Pak-Kashmir. He could have been a Kashmiri and raised on the Indian side. But the word 'based' signifies the area where they were trained and where their handlers or bosses currently are. To draw a parallel, Kurdish guerrillas based out of Turkey carried out hit and run attacks on the Iraqis inside Iraq during Saddam's reign.

Just as satellite phone intercepts of the Mumbai attackers, they have found intercepts of talks with handlers based in Pakistan. They were asking them to take care of their family and remember their shahadat. I believe you can find news articles on this if you Google it.

 

[gogbot]

And who is THEY? shine some light on it !

well the terrorist organizations and groups.I mean some one trains then equips them and tells them to go do a twisted Jihad against India. so where ware they getting these numbers of people to recruit.

Its been over 20 years and the number is still in the thousands.

 

[gogbot]

With a little more thought you will find the answer within your question... How long can you shoot militants or terrorists for ? ...not very long I'd say...unless they are not terrorists but people who actually want freedom, which is the fundamental right that has been denied to these people. Twenty years is a long time to realize that if you want to realize it, but if you don't then you should stop counting as well.. You can kill a terrorist but a man who fights for his freedom..he lives on and there will be 20 willing to take his place and for years to come.

Freedom fighters fight the state.

Terrorists kill indiscriminately, If they were freedom fighter as you say.

They stopped being that when they decided to go kill women and children just to make a point.

Tell what reason does a freedom fighter have to kill 6 year old child.

Was it not our lands that showed the world , the non violent road to freedom. Tell me did we bomb the British in India, did kill women and children.

Are telling me Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is the same as this lot. He was a freedom fighter. Are happy drawing this comparison.

They are terrorists, they will kill anyone to get what they want.
Its either their way or death and misery.

 

[gogbot]

i think he means zardari!

Zadari doesn't have the power to control his own government.

How will he keep terrorists in line ?

 

[Draft]

how many terrorists can they have, we've been shooting them for 20 years don't they run out people at some point.

I mean not everyone is ignorant enough to take up Extremist ideals

I mean 1200 staged across the border that's more than the number currently in Kashmir right now.

As long as there is poverty and unemployment in the world and more specifically Pakistan, there would not be any dearth of people who are willing to take arms for some twisted ideology or reason.