Abdulian (Indo-Pak Border), August 17
Panic gripped villagers of Abdulian and Chandu Chack after Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked and heavy fire on Indian posts along the International Border (IB) in the RS Pura sector, killing a BSF constable late last night.

Pakistan has violated ceasefire 11 times in the past 13 days along the 192-km International Border and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

A BSF officer said Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked fire on the Abdulian border out post around 8 pm on Thursday killing Chandan Rai of the BSF’s 135 Battalion. Firing continued till 11 pm before guns fell silent on both sides. Hailing from Assam, Rai had been with the BSF for 11 years.

The Rangers again opened fire on Friday morning, targeting the Abdulian and Korotona border out posts. “Firing began around 7.15 am and continued till 9.25 am. Rangers used small arms fire and, accordingly, we also gave them a calibrated response,” said the BSF officer, adding that the situation along the IB was tense.

About a flag meet, he said, “They are firing at us. Flag meetings are not possible under such circumstances.”

Panic gripped the border hamlet of Abdulian, where many houses located close to the border were hit by bullets. Bachno Devi (60) and her one-year-old grandson escaped by a whisker when two bullets fired by the Rangers hit the verandah of their house in Chandu Chak village around 10.30 am today.

To allay fears and instill confidence among the villagers, Medical and Technical Education Minister RS Chib and senior officials of the civil administration, police and BSF visited Abdulian and the adjoining Chandu Chack village.