3 rockets fired from Pak side, 2 land in Indian villages

Amritsar, July 5 (PTI) Three rockets were fired from
the Pakistan side of the border with two of them landing
inside in as many Indian villages, injuring a youth besides
triggering panic among villagers, a official of India's Border
Security Force (BSF) said Sunday.

"Last night around 9.50 pm, three rockets were fired
from the Pakistan side, out of which two landed in Dhandae and
Baherwal villages close to the Attari international border. A
youth was injured in the incident," BSF's Inspector General
(Punjab Frontier), Himmat Singh told PTI over phone.

Singh said one rocket fell and exploded on the Pak
side of the International Border. The incident had also
triggered panic among the border residents.

Soon after the incident, senior officials of BSF,
including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mohammed Aqeel, army
and police visited the spot.

Asked if it could be the handiwork of Pak-based terror
groups, Singh said, "At the moment, we cannot confirm this
though such a possibility cannot be ruled out.

"We held the commandant-level meeting late last night
with Pakistani Rangers and conveyed our strong protest. They
have assured us that they will fully investigate the matter
and share the details with us."

A 24-year-old youth, Dilbagh Singh (24), of Dhandae
village, who was working on his fields, received splinter
injuries. The rocket had also created a 10-ft-wide crater.

Asked from what distance could the rockets have been
fired, Singh said this could be confirmed only after the
investigations.

The BSF IG also said the force had also taken
additional measures to strengthen security of visitors who
flocked to the Attari border in large numbers to witness the
Beating Retreat ceremony in the evening.

BSF sources said a heavy contingent of Army and BSF
were monitoring the situation since Saturday night.

Various army teams were already on the spot to gather
splinters of the two rockets that exploded on this side of the
border.

The BSF sources said the force has collected some
pieces of the fired objects from Dhandae.

Dhandae is a small village with only about 200
families and none of them came out of their houses even in
late morning after the rocket explosions.

Dilbagh Singh, who was a victim and an eyewitness as
well, said the rocket was fired from the Pakistani side and
fell on his irrigated paddy field, a portion of which was
damaged.

Another eyewitness Sukhwinder said the villagers were
in a state of panic and feared that such incidents may recur.

In a separate incident Saturday evening, a Pakistani
intruder aged about (22) created tension at the international
boundary in during daytime when he ignored repeated warnings
of BSF and crossed over to Indian territory after which he was
shot dead.

The incident took place near the Attari Check Post at
Rorawali village adjoining to Dhandae village. PTI COR
PMR
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