Four Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including an officer, were killed and three others injured in an 'unprovoked' firing by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior BSF officer said on Wednesday.
"Pakistan Rangers initiated cross border firing along IB in Ramgarh sector last night. We have lost four of our personnel, including an assistant commandant rank officer, while other 3 of our personnel suffered injuries," IG, BSF (Jammu Frontier) Ram Awtar said.
He said Pakistan Rangers and the BSF had recently agreed to ensure ceasefire along the IB but the former violated it by initiating cross-border firing, according to a PTI report run by the Times of India.
In a tweet, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid expressed his condolence over the incident.
"In Ramgarh Jammu sector of IB , 4 BSF personnel were martyred including one Asstt Commandant & 5 injured due to firing from across. Our heart goes to those who lost their dear ones," he said.
The firing from across the border in Chamliyal post area of Ramgarh sector started around 10.30pm on Tuesday and continued till 4.30am, a police official said, seeking anonymity.
He said it was not immediately clear whether the BSF personnel were killed last night or in the wee hours today.
The BSF troops also fired in retaliation, the official said.