BSF accuses Pakistan forces of betrayal

Srinagar: Senior officials of Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday accused their Pakistani counterparts of betrayal after an officer and three jawans of the paramilitary force were killed and three others wounded in “unprovoked” firing from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district overnight.

BSF’s additional director-general (Western Command) K.N. Choubey and inspector-general (Jammu Frontier) Ram Awtar, while speaking to reporters after a wreath-laying ceremony at Jammu, told reporters that the BSF has maintained the sanctity of the November 2003 ceasefire understanding between the two countries whereas Pakistani has violated it repeatedly. In the latest such violation, a BSF assistant commandant, a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector and a constable were killed and three other jawans were injured in Ramgarh sector of Samba early Wednesday.

BSF jawans chanted anti Pakistan slogans at the farewell of their slain colleagues held at the regional headquarters of the paramilitary force in Paloura area of Jammu on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Choubey said, “We’ve maintained the sanctity of the ceasefire. Pakistan has not. It has violated it.” He termed it as “unfortunate” and said what Pakistan has done was its business and that how India will respond to it “is our job.”

He said, “What Pakistan does is its business and how we respond to the betrayal is our job.” Asked if the deaths of BSF jawans would be avenged, he said “What is going to unfold in our operational preparedness is something that I am not going to share”.