Ferozepore, June 20
Tension between India and Pakistan eased in the Sriganganagar area following a flag meeting between the Indian and Pakistani authorities late last night. The flag meeting was held on zero line near Khamisa.

Sources in the BSF revealed that the Pakistani Rangers sought the meeting after retaliatory shelling from the Indian side on Wednesday destroyed one of their border observation, post, a watchtower and several bunkers.

At least 10 Rangers are said to have been killed in the shelling by the Indian troops. The body of Lance Naik Maqsood Ahmed, a Pakistani Ranger, which was lying in the custody of the Indian forces, after he was killed in the skirmish, was handed over to the Pakistani authorities after the flag meeting. The skirmish began on Tuesday night when a BSF patrol party intercepted Ahmed while he was trying to sneak into India.

The Pakistani Rangers started firing on the patrol party to provide cover to the intruder, killing Assistant Commandant Sumer Singh and forcing the Indian troops to retaliate. Tuesday evening’s incident is said to have turned into a bloody duel over a camel that crossed in the Indian territory. The sources revealed that BSF officials asked the Ranger to come over and take the camel back. But he tried to sneak deep into the Indian territory. After alerting the post, the BSF officials rounded up Lance Naik Maqsood for questioning. Unexpectedly, when the BSF officials were talking to the Ranger, the Pakistanis opened fire.

Assistant Commandant of the BSF Sumer Singh was killed on the spot while the Commander Pradip Tripathi managed to return from zero line. BSF jawans gave a befitting reply to the Pakistan Rangers and destroyed one of their forward posts while Lance Naik Maqsood was killed in the crossfire.