Hours after 'pleading' with BSF to stop shooting, Pakistan violates ceasefire

Hours after "pleading" with the BSF to stop firing, the Pakistani forces again conducted unprovoked firing and shelling along the International border in Jammu and Kashmir on the intervening night of May 20-21.

The forces opened fire on the Indian side at around 10:30 pm in J&K's Arnia and Ramgarh sector of Samba.

The shelling was followed by mortar firing targetting the forward posts of the BSF and villages.

The Pak army's plea came after one of its soldiers succumbed to injuries after he was hit by heavy artillery from across the border. 

There was no casualty reported as yet.

A BSF spokesperson said on Saturday,"(Pakistan) Rangers called up the Jammu BSF formation today and beseeched to stop firing".

"The befitting reply by the BSF units to the unprovoked shelling and firing across the IB by the Pakistani forces has forced them to plead for a ceasefire," a senior official said.

The firing from the Pakistani side has come amid the government's suspension of operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the month of Ramzan.

The Union Ministry's order which will continue until June 16 has asked the security forces not to conduct operations during the month of Ramzan in J&K.

The forces, however, have the right to retaliate if attacked or to safeguard the lives of innocent people.