In one of the biggest retaliatory actions along the India-Pakistan border by security forces, the BSF has informed the Union home ministry that it has destroyed 27 posts and 18 watchtowers of the Pakistani Rangers in the last few days. BSF, which is the border guarding force for the Indo-Pak border, has also stated that it has killed as many as seven Pak Rangers and injured several of them, including a senior officer of the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Amid unprecedented ceasefire violations and heavy firing by Pakistani Rangers along the border in the northern sector, one of the first things that home minister Rajnath Singh did on return from his three-day Bahrain visit on Wednesday was to have a detailed security review meeting with senior officials on the prevailing situation along the border. These details were shared by the BSF during the high-level meeting with the home minister. Sources said that even while in Bahrain, the home minister was closely monitoring the security scenario along the border and was in constant touch with the BSF chief K.K. Sharma.
The BSF also informed the home minister that heavy firing by the Pak Rangers was largely due to two main factors. Firstly, the Pakistani security forces are trying hard to push in large number of militants waiting close to the border before winter sets in and are primarily providing cover fire for this. Secondly, the Pak Rangers are retaliating to India’s surgical strikes and even the killing of seven of its personnel last week by BSF. Sources said the home minister was given a detailed presentation on deployment of troops along the border and how Indian security forces too were retaliating hard to the firing from across the border. “According to our information, the Pak Rangers and Army has deployed heavy artillery close to the border but has not used it so far. As of now, they are relying more on heavy mortar firing, heavy automatic weapons and even sniper shots. Our security forces too have mobilised their resources accordingly to meet any challenges,’’ a senior security official said.
The home minister was also briefed about latest intelligence reports regarding activities of terrorists in the Kashmir Valley which revealed that they were desperate to get help, both in terms of manpower and weapons, from across the border. According to latest intelligence inputs, only 250 active militants are left in the Valley right now so Pakistan is trying to send in more terrorists before winter.
The recent incidents of snatching of weapons from security forces in the Valley is also causing concern among the Home Ministry as most of them are said to have reached terror outfits. Most of these weapons are of AK-series and in wake of increased surveillance along the border since terror outfits are not able to get reinforcements they have resorted to snatching weapons from local security personnel in the Valley.
Home Minister has also instructed security forces, including the local J&K Police, that adequate steps should be taken immediately to stop such incidents.
