JAMMU: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was injured on Wednesday after Pakistani forces opened unprovoked fire on Indian posts in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu. This incident marked a violation of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan along the border.

BSF personnel retaliated to the attack, though there was no immediate information on casualties on the Pakistani side, The BSF said in a statement, "On 11 Sept 2024, at around 02:35 AM, unprovoked firing occurred in the Akhnoor area from across the border, to which the BSF gave a fitting response. One BSF personnel sustained injuries. Troops are on high alert."

Since India and Pakistan renewed their ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021, such violations have been rare. However, a BSF jawan was killed last year in the Ramgarh sector during a firing incident initiated by Pakistan Rangers, marking the first fatality in over three years.

This latest violation comes just days before the first phase of the upcoming assembly elections, set to begin on September 18. The elections, taking place in three phases, will conclude on October 1.

In preparation for the elections, the Union government has deployed paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in light of the increase in terror activities in the region since June. Between March and April of this year, an estimated 60 to 80 terrorists are believed to have infiltrated the Jammu area. Security forces have since intensified counter-insurgency operations to thwart further attempts.

BSF Director General Daljit Singh reviewed security along the Jammu border on August 22. Additionally, around 450 companies of paramilitary forces, initially deployed for the Amarnath Yatra, have remained in the region, with nearly 450 more companies brought in for election duty.

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