Pakistan firing kills BSF trooper in J&K

One Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and a civilian injured on Friday after Pakistani troopers resorted to heavy firing on Indian posts along the international border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan violated ceasefire around 1 a.m. They resorted to firing and shelling using small and heavy weapons on the IB in Arnia sub-sector at Nikowal, Budhwar, Buley-Chak, S.H. Beh and Shahnaz forward posts," a police officer said.

BSF constable Bajinder Bahadur of the 192 battalion was critically injured at Shahnaz post. He succumbed while being shifted to a hospital. Bahadur was a resident of Uttar Pradesh.

One civilian was also hit. "At 6 a.m., Ajay Kumar received a bullet injury in his right leg, just outside his house. He was shifted to a hospital," the officer said.

Kumar, 37, is a resident of Pawal Arnia.

"Heavy firing exchanges are going on as BSF troopers retaliated unprovoked, indiscriminate firing by Pakistan," the police officer said at around 11.15 a.m.

Panic has gripped scores of border residents living in villages close to the international border of R.S. Pura in Jammu.

The authorities have kept emergency services ready to meet any eventuality.

--IANS

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