Jammu, Nov 9: A Border Security Force (BSF) Head Constable was killed in “unprovoked firing by Pakistan Rangers” in Ramgarh sector along the International Border in Samba district early Thursday morning.
Since October 18, this is the third incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the International Border in Jammu frontier.
PRO BSF Jammu, in an official statement, said, “During intervening night of November 8 and 9, 2023, Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing in Ramgarh area which was befittingly responded by BSF troops.”
Local sources said that the Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked heavy firing using Medium Machine Guns (MMGs) from their Ashraf posts targetting Narayanpur and other Border Out Posts (BOPs) of BSF at around 12.20 am in Ramgarh sector.
In the heavy firing, one BSF Head Constable identified as Lalfam Kima, 50, a resident of Aizawl, Mizoram sustained critical injuries. He was immediately taken to Ramgarh Community Health Centre (CHC).
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Ramgarh Dr Lakhwinder Singh told media persons that the injured BSF Head Constable was brought to the CHC at around 1 am.
Later, given his critical injuries after first-aid at CHC, he was shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital Jammu where he succumbed to his injuries.
Later during the day, in a solemn wreath laying ceremony at BSF camp in Paloura, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha; Special Director General (DG) BSF P V Ramasastry; Inspector General (IG) BSF D K Boora and all ranks of BSF Jammu paid homage to late Head Constable Lalfam Kima.
Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Home Raj Kumar Goyal, Inspector General of Police Jammu zone Anand Jain and Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar also offered tributes to the slain BSF soldier.
After the wreath laying ceremony, the preparations were underway to send mortal remains of the fallen soldier to his native place for the last rites with full military honour.
“Late Lalfam Kima sacrificed his life in the line of duty for the nation during unprovoked firing by Pakistan on the International border,” PRO BSF said. Kima is survived by his wife and three children.
After attending the wreath laying ceremony, LG Sinha paid homage to the BSF soldier on ‘X’ (previously called Twitter), as he tweeted, “Paid tributes to Border Security Force’s brave personnel Lal Fam Kima, who was martyred while protecting our nation along the Jammu Border. His valour and supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
BSF, on its official post on X, wrote, “Director General and all ranks of Border Security Force salute the supreme sacrifice of HC/GD Lal Fam Kima of 148 Bn who succumbed to injuries during unprovoked Cross Border Firing incident along the Jammu Border. Prahari Parivar stands by his family in this trying time.”
Jammu frontier had witnessed third incident of “unprovoked firing” by Pak Rangers since October 18 when in Arnia, two BSF personnel had sustained injuries in firing from across the border.
Following it, during the intervening night of October 26 and 27 in Arnia and other areas along the International Border in Jammu, Pakistan Rangers yet again resorted to heavy firing and shelling.
One BSF jawan and a civilian woman had sustained injuries in the firing. Several houses had also suffered damages in the heavy shelling.
For these acts of provocation, on October 28, BSF at the Commander-level flag meeting at Octroi post in Suchetgarh, had lodged “strong protest with Pakistan Rangers over unprovoked firing.”
Prior to it, on October 19 also, the BSF had lodged a protest with Pakistan Rangers over “unprovoked cross-border firing” on October 18 in Arnia and “narcotic smuggling from across the border” at a Commandant level flag meeting held in R S Pura.
Today’s incident of firing claiming the life of a BSF soldier evoked anger as well as renewed fear among locals. In this connection, the people of Treva village in Arnia sector held a protest demonstration against Pakistan.
Political parties too condemned Pakistan for resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations in Ramgarh sector targeting BSF BOPs and civilian areas and expressed shock and grief over the death of the BSF soldier.
In a statement, Congress said that Pakistan resorted to heavy firing in the border areas to create fear amongst the farmers who were engaged in the harvesting of paddy crops. “It’s deliberate mischief on the part of Pakistan which is intolerable. The government of India should take stern action against Pakistan to safeguard our jawans and the civilian population,” the party said.
Apni Party provincial president Jammu and former minister, Manjit Singh, too while condemning the unprovoked firing by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border in Ramgarh sector, expressed his sympathy with the family members of the martyred BSF soldier.
“It’s an attempt to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu’s border belt in a bid to spread fear among the farmers with ulterior motives to support subversive activities,” he said.