BSF DIG O.P. Tanwar killed in Jammu

Senior BSF officer killed in Jammu mine blast

A file photo of BSF DIG O P Tanwar who was killed in the landmine blast at a border outpost at Ramgarh Sector in Samba near Jammu

A Border Security Force Deputy Inspector-General was killed and two soldiers were injured when an improvised explosive device went off on the international border in the Samba sector of Jammu on Monday morning.

DIG O.P. Tanwar was killed while on a visit to the Ballad post following reports of militant infiltration in the area. While inspecting the spot which, sources said, was a “very secure area,” his vehicle drove over a landmine. DIG Tanwar died on the spot while head constable Sham Dogra and constable Sanjeev Kumar were seriously injured.

The injured troopers were removed to the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu. The BSF’s 59th battalion was posted in the area at the time of the blast.

Inquiry ordered

Speaking to The Hindu on the phone, K. Srinivas, DIG at the BSF headquarters in Delhi, said the BSF guards had noticed movement of militants on the Pakistani side through thermal images on Sunday night. DIG Tanwar, he said, had gone to area to assess the situation but “it is a sandy area and we were not expecting anything like this.”

He said an inquiry had been ordered into the incident.

Mr. Srinivas said India would be registering its protest during a flag meeting between the Indian and Pakistani sides in the same sector, possibly on Tuesday.

Pak violates ceasefire, BSF Inspector killed

A Sub Inspector of paramilitary BSF was killed, while a labourer received bullet injuries, when Pakistan Rangers allegedly opened fire on an Indian forward post along the border, in violation of the ceasefire agreement, in Samba district, officials said on Tuesday.
They said that Pak army personnel opened “unprovoked fire” on the Indian post this afternoon leading to a brief exchange of fire.
A BSF Sub Inspector - Ram Chander Singh Rana of Dehradun – who was standing outside the post received bullet in his chest leading to his on the spot death. A civilian laborer, who was cutting grass in the area, also received bullet injury, officials added.
The BSF has taken the matter seriously and has intensified its vigil along the border. The BSF has also called for a flag meeting with its counterpart in Pakistan to take up the matter, officials added.