Pakistani troops open fire to salute Modi in J&K
JAMMU After a brief lull Pakistan on Wednesday again resorted to firing from across the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir in yet another act of ceasefire violation as security has been beefed up across the Valley in the wake of separatists’ call for a general strike on Thursday against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Pakistan Rangers resorted to small arms firing at Narainpur border outposts (BoP) along IB in Ramgarh sector of Samba district at around 10.30am,” Ramgarh station house officer Satesh Kumar said. Confirming the ceasefire violation, a Border Security Force spokesman said that Indian troops had retaliated to the Pakistani firing in brief exchanges.
“There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing,” the spokesman added.
Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength and are conducting random checking of vehicles at dozens of places in the city and elsewhere, a senior police officer said.
Special checking points have been set up at various places in the city including entry and exit points as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
The move was aimed at foiling any attempt by militants to strike in the city ahead or during the prime minister’s visit, he said.
The prime minister is expected to land at the airport here around 1pm.. He will then go to the Raj Bhawan where he will meet members of flood-affected families, including women and children, from different parts of the Valley.
“He will chair a meeting to review the relief and rehabilitation operations by the state and the federal government agencies,” a state government source said. “Modi is also likely to visit a relief camp in Srinagar,” the source added.
“Government of India acted as the mute spectator amid worst ever floods in Kashmir and did nothing to mitigate the sufferings of the affected on ground...we will not allow anyone to rub salt into
our wounds,” hardline faction of Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani said in a statement.