By M S Nazki
Many played their part in Operation Sindoor and all were notable chapters in the military history of armed forces in which wars were forced upon us! If that be the case then how could the Border Security Force remain away from action!
-Operation Sindoor was a retaliatory strike by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) against Pakistan, following the Pahalgam attack in which 26 civilians were killed. The BSF launched precision strikes on terror launch pads and Pakistani posts along the International Border. BSF women soldiers played a crucial role, defending their posts and forcing enemy combatants to retreat in the Akhnoor sector.
– A team of seven BSF women soldiers, led by Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari, defended their posts in the Akhnoor sector for three days and nights during the operation
- The Border Security Force’s (BSF) Jammu frontier inspector general (IG) Shashank Anand said the force inflicted heavy damage on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor by destroying over 70 posts of Rangers and three terror launch pads across the 200km International Border.
Addressing mediapersons, Anand said, “Following Pahalgam terror attack, Pak Rangers had suspended their activities in their posts and had fallen back. On the contrary, we had prepared well for any unprovoked firing.”
– “We dominated the IB and our men and women guarded posts which are beyond the border fence (towards zero line),” he added.
– “The BSF, on the night of May 8, observed movement of a big group of suspected terrorists opposite the Samba sector. We tracked their movement and launched a preemptive strike,” he said.
-The BSF IG added that their strike took Pak Rangers by surprise, and the latter opened fire on BSF posts.
-“Since we were well prepared, we launched an attack and inflicted heavy damage on Pakistan, destroying over 70 posts opposite IB and three terror launch pads in Sialkot between May 8 and 10,” he said.
-The IG added that Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing near the Akhnoor sector on May 9. “Between May 9 and 10, heavy firing was reported along the Akhnoor sector. The BSF responded by targeting their Looni terror launch pad,” he added
-The IG said the BSF intended to name two BSF posts after sub-inspector Mohammad Imtiyaz and constable Deepak Kumar, who were killed on duty in RS Pura sector during the conflict.
-BSF deputy inspector general (DIG) Indreshwar Nagar, Chiter Pal, said that on May 9, Pakistan initiated firing using flat trajectory weapons and mortars, targeting BSF posts and Abdullian village near the border. He said the BSF responded strongly, returning fire effectively.
-“Once the intensity of direct firing was reduced, Pakistan increased drone activity in the area. In retaliation, BSF targeted and destroyed the Mastpur terror launch pad located across the border, which was being used to facilitate terrorist movement and attacks.”
-BSF to name border post Sindoor after Op success
-BSF plans to name a post “Sindoor” after Operation Sindoor, honoring women officers and fallen personnel who bravely defended the border.
-The Border Security Force(BSF) will propose to name a post near the international border as Sindoor in a reference to Operation Sindoor, India’s successful military response to the Pahalgam terror strike, inspector general (Jammu sector), Shashank Anand said on Tuesday.
-The officer shared how a group of women BSF officers commanded the sensitive posts during the cross-border firing and destroyed posts of Pakistan Rangers and terror launch pads during the operation. Additionally, BSF will also propose to name two other posts in the RS Pura Sector as homage to two of its personnel — Mohammed Imtiyaz and Deepak Chingakham — who died in the line of duty, he added.
– “BSF women officers had the option of relocating to the headquarters from the border outposts but our brave women chose to stay at the forward duty post and do their duty along with their male counterparts. Women officers such as assistant commandant Neha Bhandari, constables Manjeet Kaur, Sumi, Malkit Kaur, Jyoti Sampa, and Swapna opened fire at the posts of the enemy near the international border. They gave a befitting reply,” Anand said, adding that at several locations, Pakistan personnel were seen leaving their posts.
“We will send a proposal to the headquarters and the government to name the post as Sindoor in the Samba sector. In remembrance of our two bravehearts, who died in the line of duty, we will name two other posts in RS Pura Sector,” he added.
Details about Operation Sindoor and the BSF’s role:
-Retaliation: Operation Sindoor was India’s response to the Pahalgam attack, where 26 civilians were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
-Targeted Strikes: The BSF launched strikes against Pakistani border outposts and terror launchpads, inflicting significant damage.
-Precision Attacks: The BSF used mortars and other weapons to target enemy posts and launchpads, with some strikes taking place 22 km inside Pakistan territory according to India Today.
-Return to Duty: BSF personnel, including those injured during the operation, returned to their duties after recovering.
-Role of women officers: Assistant commandant Neha Bhandari, who was commanding a post at the border in Samba, told reporters,” If they fired at us once, we fired at them twice. We fired flat trajectory, high trajectory at their posts and forced them to run. Their surveillance equipment was broken. Women jawans were given the option to retreat to the headquarters but they all chose to stay back at the outpost and respond to the attack. The josh was high among all the troops.”
Sharing details of how communication lines along Pakistan’s Sialkot district near the border were destroyed, Anand said that on the morning of May 10, Pakistan flew drones with payloads at low heights. “BSF engaged these drones but in one unfortunate incident, our brave heart post commander Mohammed Imtiyaz, his colleague constable Deepak, and one army man Naik Sunil Kumar lost their lives due to shelling and while firing at the drones. But our jawans gave a befitting reply. This is why across the Sialkot belt in Pakistan, BSF damaged their communication lines, their advanced surveillance equipment, posts, and terror launchpads- Looni, Mastpur, and Chatpura.
BSF officials also said that on the morning of May 9 and 10, Pakistan also specifically targeted the civilian population and that a communication by Pakistan specifically asking their men on the ground to target one such area (Abdullian in RS Pura) was intercepted.
BSF DIG Chitrapal, of the Jammu sector, said,” At around 9.30 pm on May 9, the counterparts across the border from our RS Sector targeted outposts. In one interception, we heard them saying – Abdullian ko hit karo, Abdullian ko hit karo(Attack Abdullian area). This is a residential area and they were trying to hit there. Our jawans responded using mortars and flat trajectory weapons. By around 4.30 am, the firing had reduced and they increased drone activity, followed by firing at outposts. But our jawans from one post in response destroyed their Mastpur terror launchpad. It has been destroyed completely. During the firing, we could see that their jawans were fleeing.”
During Operation Sindoor, BSF officials said that at least 76 Pakistan outposts were targeted by Indian forces in response to Pakistan firing at 40 Indian outposts. One Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) complex, maintained by the Pakistan Army and used by ISI, was also destroyed on the night of May 9.
