India summoned Pakistan's charge d'affaires after the Border Security Force killed two men in Tarn Taran, calling them infiltrators. Pakistan summoned India's diplomat and said the men were unarmed civilians.
India and Pakistan each summoned the other's diplomat after the Border Security Force killed two men along the international border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district on Friday. India Today reported that New Delhi called the men infiltrators and protested what it described as continued facilitation of illegal crossings from Pakistan. Pakistan's foreign ministry said the men were unarmed civilians.
Hindustan Times, citing officials, reported that troops challenged the suspected intruders around noon, warned them repeatedly, and opened fire after they kept moving toward the Indian side. The bodies were handed to Punjab Police for post-mortem examination. Identities had not been established, and a meeting with the Pakistan Rangers was expected.
Tarn Taran deputy superintendent Atul Soni told India Today that three people crossed toward Indian territory and that one returned to Pakistan. He said the other two continued despite warnings and, according to a BSF sentry, were provoking the troops and saying they wanted to enter India. The Hindu's Sunday digest reported the same diplomatic exchange and the competing accounts.
The two governments have not published a joint account of the incident. Indian officials say an investigation with Punjab Police is continuing. Pakistan has rejected the infiltrator description.
No independent public identification of the dead men, or a confirmed time for the Rangers flag meeting, had been released by Sunday morning.
People Sentiments Negative
- India said the men were infiltrators and protested cross-border movement
- Pakistan said the two men were unarmed civilians
- Local police said identities had not yet been established