PM monitoring situation at border closely, Rajnath Singh says

JAMMU: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the defence forces were giving a "befitting" reply to the Pakistani onslaught and the country will not bow before anyone.

"I want to assure the people that we will not let down our country," Rajnath Singh said, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that "everything will be fine soon" on Pakistan border.

READ ALSO: India's tough posture on border has been in place since June

"The Prime Minister is keeping a close eye on the situation. He does not need to speak as our Army and BSF personnel are giving a befitting response and we are satisfied with it," Singh said amid questions being raised by the Opposition on government's reponse to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Meanwhile, India and Pakistan traded heavy mortar and gun fire along the international border with Pakistani troops targeting 60 outposts amd 90 villagers overnight in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, leaving eight people, including three BSF jawans, injured.

READ ALSO: India rules out talks until Pakistan stops firing

Pakistan Rangers shelled almost the entire 192-km border during the night. Nearly 30,000 people have been displaced following one of the worst violations of the 2003 ceasefire by Pakistan which has left eight people dead and 80 others, including nine security men, injured since October 1.

"Pakistani Rangers continued with unprovoked mortar shelling and heavy automatic weapon firing on BSF posts all along International Border (IB) since 8.45 last night", a BSF spokesman said on Thursday.

An injured being taken to hospital after firing from the Pakistani side at the border in Jammu on Wednesday. (PTI photo)

"Almost the whole stretch of International Border in Samba, Hiranagar, Ramgarh, Arnia, R S Pura, Kanachak and Pargwal (Sub-sectors) was affected in the firing," he said.

"About 60 BSF border outposts were affected by the fire from Pakistan side," the spokesman said, adding BSF troops retaliated in a "calibrated manner".

Firing exchanges were continuing till Thursday morning in Pargwal, Kanachak, Arnia and Samba sub-sectors.

READ ALSO: India lodges strong protest with Pak over border firing

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