50 terrorists tried to enter India under cover of Pakistani shelling on May 8: BSF
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50 terrorists tried to enter India under cover of Pakistani shelling on May 8: BSF
BSF thwarted infiltration attempt by around 45-50 terrorists along J&K’s Samba border on May 8, says DIG SS Mand. The attempt was reportedly supported by Pakistan and carried out under the cover of cross-border shelling. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, visited the Poonch Brigade headquarters on Wednesday. He met Army and BSF personnel stationed in the area. BSF has resumed the Beating Retreat ceremony at three Joint Check Posts along the Punjab border. The daily flag-lowering event had been suspended on May 9 after the Pahalgam terror attack and the launch of Operation Sindoor. It is now open to the public again.
According to BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SS Mand, Pakistan violated the ceasefire and used heavy firing to help the terrorists cross the International Border. DIG Mand told news agency ANI, “Our brave soldiers have inflicted great losses on them. We got intelligence that a large group is trying to infiltrate. We were ready for them and we detected them on 8 May.”
“They were a group of 45-50 men… They were advancing to our location… We assessed the situation and since our scenario was war-gamed, we inflicted heavy bombardment on them,” he added.
Describing the incident in detail, Mand said, “As expected, they retaliated with heavy fire from their posts… We opened up with heavy and accurate fire on them. That was a major factor. They were seen running away from their posts. We sorted them out in 1.5 hours.”
He said that BSF officers were present at forward positions, which helped maintain high morale among the troops. He praised the dedication of women soldiers as well. “We decimated their bunkers and degraded their fire capacity… Our jawans are still very energised and if the enemy takes any action again, we will retaliate with ten times more force… BSF has these clear orders,” Mand added.
Speaking about women soldiers, he said, “Our women troops stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, carrying out all duties effectively. We are truly proud of them.”
In a related development, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, visited the Poonch Brigade headquarters on Wednesday. He met Army and BSF personnel stationed in the area.
BSF resumes Beating Retreat ceremony along Punjab border
Meanwhile, the BSF has resumed the Beating Retreat ceremony at three Joint Check Posts along the Punjab border — Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadqi. The daily flag-lowering event had been suspended on May 9 after the Pahalgam terror attack and the launch of Operation Sindoor. It is now open to the public again.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Indian forces targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following India’s strikes, Pakistan responded with shelling along the Line of Control and border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as drone attacks. India countered by damaging Pakistan’s air defence, radar, and communication systems, and hit 11 of their airbases.
On May 10, a ceasefire understanding was reached aiming to stop military action on land, sea and in the air.
(With ANI inputs)
BSF Foils Several Infiltration Bids During Operation Sindoor
BSF foiled an infiltration bid of nearly 50 terrorists during ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 8. The group, attempting to sneak into Indian territory under the cover of ceasefire violations, was met with a fierce counter-offensive. BSF destroyed multiple terrorist hideouts in Pakistan’s Sialkot sector along the India–Pakistan International Border. Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the BSF, S.S. Mand said, “On May 8, a major infiltration attempt involving 45–50 heavily armed terrorists was thwarted by the alert BSF personnel in Samba district.”
He said, “The group, attempting to sneak into Indian territory under the cover of ceasefire violations, was met with a fierce counter-offensive. BSF retaliated with heavy mortar fire, neutralising enemy positions and forcing the infiltrators to retreat.”
“We had prior intelligence that a large group was attempting infiltration. Our alert troops identified them early, and within 1.5 hours of engagement, the group was repelled with heavy losses. Our forces responded with precision and intensity, degrading their bunkers and suppressing their firepower,” DIG Mand said.
He said that in a decisive and calibrated military operation, the BSF destroyed multiple terrorist hideouts in Pakistan’s Sialkot sector along the India–Pakistan International Border during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead.
“Even two weeks after the operation, Pakistani Rangers have reportedly abandoned their posts along the international border, signalling the extent of damage and demoralisation inflicted by Indian forces,” he added.
DIG Mand praised the high morale and preparedness of BSF troops, emphasising the leadership of officers on the frontline. He also highlighted the commendable performance of women soldiers, who operated shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts during the high-stakes confrontation. “We are truly proud of our women troops,” he said.
Following the setbacks during “Operation Sindoor,” Pakistan resorted to drone warfare, attempting to target civilian and military installations in Jammu. However, India’s air defence systems and BSF’s anti-drone units successfully intercepted these drone incursions. On May 9, Pakistan initiated unprovoked firing along the IB and launched drones aimed at BSF camps and border villages, but all such attempts were neutralised. (KNO)
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/50-terrorists-tried-to-enter-india-under-cover-of-pakistani-shelling-on-may-8-bsf-101747877990610.html