Attari Sector (Punjab): In a repeat of rocket attacks on Punjab's border villages recently, at least six rockets were lobbed from Pakistani side in the fields near the villages around Attari sector, close to India-Pakistan border on Saturday. Two of the rockets landed in Border Security
Force post (Khangarh), about two kilometres from the international Indo-Pak
border. Meanwhile, in retaliation, Border Security Force also opened fire with
machine
gun and mortar fire towards Pakistan and also registered its protest over the
rocket shelling incident with Pakistani rangers during the Flag meeting. "At night
around 12.00 to12.15 from Pakistan side around 5-6 rockets were fired. Out of
which two fell near the BOP (Border Out Post). And sounds of two-three more
explosions
were heard. The rockets, which fell near BOP, did not explode and there have been
no reports of damage to any human life or property," said Himmat Singh, the
Inspector
General (Frontier), Border Security Force, Punjab. "At night itself we convened
a flag meeting of commandant level with Pakistan Rangers in which we strongly
protested against the incident. We have urged that they should strongly stop such
attacks from their area. They raised objection that our force targeted their BOP
and fired bomb on it, after this we have given them strict warnings that if such
an incident is repeated then strong action will be taken by the border security
force," Singh further informed. According to available information, two rockets
landed at the Khangarh post of the BSF at 12.10 a.m. but failed to blast. Local
villagers, however, said that they heard about six blasts in the border areas.
Due to dense fog, Border guards are confronted with difficulty to carry out the
search operation. No casualty has so far been reported till now. Notably last
year (on July 5 and December 9), Pakistan had lobbed at least nine rockets towards
India which were found in this side of villages namely Dhandae, Bherwal and
Konake.
Indian authorities at that time also lodged their protest with Pakistan and told
the Pakistani authorities to take adequate steps so that such incidents don't
happen in future. Pakistani authorities, however, denied their hand into the rocket
attacks. On an average, each village along the border holds an estimated 300 acres
area of land beyond fencing. And, they have always cultivated their farmlands
under the protection of the Border Security Forces (BSF) Jawans since 1990s. The
rocket shelling incidents have made villagers worried for life. There have been
several incidents of shelling or firing from Pakistan side of the India-Pakistan
border in Attari sector of Punjab, including the latest witnessed on Friday night.
The latest incident has caused a sense of fear and panic among villagers. A lot
of farmers, who own land beyond border fencing, are reluctant to visit their fields
without security personnel. "The rockets fell just in our fields. Our houses are
also here. So it is a grave danger for us. Earlier also such incidents have taken
place in our village," said Gurdeep singh, a local, Farmers now want more security
measures to be put in place to prevent such incidents and ensure safety from nuisance
of Pakistan. "After this incident at night, people here are scared. There is a
feeling of anxiouness for safety among all the nearby villages as well here. Some
people after the incident slept while keeping lights on but some were ready to
leave their houses at night itself since many explosions occurred. People who
were unwell and lying on their beds also got really shocked," said Rajinder Singh,
another local villager said.
