New Delh: (Update) A BSF trooper was killed after Pakistan Rangers resorted unprovoked firing on the International Border in Samba district of Jammu on Wednesday.
“Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing on the Regal border outpost of BSF in Samba district of Jammu region,” a senior police officer told IANS in winter capital Jammu. “A BSF trooper was killed in Pakistan firing, which is still going on (around 1.45 pm). BSF has effectively retaliated,” the police officer added.
The trooper has not been identified yet. The trooper was killed after BSF troops foiled an infiltration bid along border.
A group of militants tried to enter into the Indian territory along the International Border in forward belt of Samba sector on Tuesday night, a senior BSF officer said, PTI reported.
Alert troops of BSF challenged them and opened fire following which they returned to the Pakistani side, he said. Pakistan has halted firing at 5 PM this evening.
Headlines today reported that 3 Pakistani rangers were killed, following which they raised the white flag and initiated diplomatic contacts. This is the restul of India’s strong stance of meeting fire with ‘double fire’ as announced by the Defence Minister.
Earlier today, the army said that there are about 170 militants waiting to infiltrate into the country across the International Border
Pakistan Rangers are pushing in armed militants into this side but alert troops are foiling their designs, he said.
New Delhi: India should not hold back in responding to cross border firing by Pakistan and retaliate with “double the force”, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.
The minister, during an interaction with journalists Tuesday night, said that Indian troops do not violate the ceasefire but only retaliate.
“I would say, don’t agitate, react appropriately but without holding yourself back. When something happens, retaliate with double the force,” said Parrikar. “If terrorists attack any defence establishment, the instruction is neutralise them without losing any men.”
The defence minister’ response came as a soldier was injured when Pakistan Tuesday fired at the Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pallanwalla sector.
Parrikar, however, added that number of cross border firings has reduced along the LoC.
“The number of incidents of cross border firing has come down along LoC . It had increased along the IB (International Border), but even that has gone down in last two months compared to last year,” he said.
Updates:
Defence agents to be legalised by mid-February: Parrikar
New Delhi: Changes in the Defence Procurement Policy to legalise representatives from foreign defence firms will be done in another month and a half, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.
In an interaction with journalists late Tuesday night, he also said that the ministry is thinking of giving conditioned and limited approval to dealing with banned firms, and a ban has been lifted to get spare parts for Tatra trucks.
“Representatives from defence firms are already allowed in the Defence Procurement Policy… the problem is it does not say what is not acceptable,” Parrikar said.
“Changes will be made to the DPP, representatives will be allowed but commission, or percentage of profit for the deals will not be allowed. The representative’s remuneration shall be declared by the company,” he said.
Parrikar added that a draft of the changed policy is ready and a final draft will be ready in another 8-10 days. It will then go through further procedures before going to the union cabinet.
“The process shall be completed in another one and a half months,” said Parrikar, but noted that those agents who have been banned by the ministry will not be permitted under the new arrangement.
He also said that banned firms can be conditionally allowed.
“Based on merit and necessity, one can think of lifting the ban to a reasonable level,” he said.
Parrikar said the state-run Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) has been allowed to supplying spare parts for Tatra trucks, as long as it does not deal with the British subsidiary of the company, which was banned following irregularities in its deal with BEML.
“Limited NoC (no objection certificate) has been given to BEML because we need Tatra trucks,” he said.
BRO to be brought fully under defence ministry: Parrikar
Border Road Organisation (BRO) will be brought fully under the defence ministry and non-sensitive roads in border areas will be handed over to the National Highways Authority of India, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
The BRO is presently under both road transport and defence ministries. While the former allocates funds, the latter has executive control.
In an interaction with journalists Tuesday night, Parrikar said dual control has led to a sad state of affairs in the organisation.
“The BRO will be brought fully under the defence ministry. There was lot of confusion because it was under two masters,” he said.
“By the next budget it will be under defence ministry completely,” he said.
The minister added that nearly 3,000 km of roads will be transferred to NHAI in the areas which are not sensitive.
On the question of a rail link along India-China border, he said he will soon hold meetings with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.
On China’s objections to infrastructure development in the border areas, Parrikar dismissed them. “What we do on our side of the border is not their business,” he said.
