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India wants explanation from Pakistan over violation of ceasefire | Union Home Secretary RK Singh on Friday said the recent ceasefire violation
by border forces of Pakistan was a matter of concern and pressed for an explanation.
Singh, who visited the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in
Jammu region here for a security review, said that the government was yet to figure
out the sudden spurt in firing by Pakistan in this region. "One reason which we
could make out was that probably this was to mask the construction of the tunnel
which was going on. This was in one sector. But in this sector, why this is happening
is something which I think they will have to explain," he added. Singh agreed
that the recent ethnic violence and exodus of northeastern people courtesy panic
messages and clips was an attempt by communal forces to polarize the masses. "There
was an attempt at polarisation, a very vicious attempt. It was an attempt from
fundamentalist's elements to polarise people on communal lines," said Singh. "We
discovered it, we stopped it, we discredited it and now people on both sides realise
that this was an attempt to polarise people on communal lines but it was a vicious
attempt," he added. The Union Home Secretary visited the international border
after Pakistan troops targeted Indian posts along the border in R S Pura sector
on Thursday killing one-security personnel. The crossfire continued for over two
hours. This was the ninth firing incident in last 12 days. The troopers initially
opened heavy firing followed by shells. Pakistani soldiers had earlier on August
5 targeted another picket in R S Pura sector in Jammu without any provocation.
The Union Home Secretary dismissed media reports claming that Pakistani Hindus
coming to India for pilgrimage were seeking asylum. "Every year what happens is
that people come to this side on visitor's visa, on pilgrimage visas and they
go back. So, we don't see any marked increase in the number of people who are
coming across, either on visitor's visa or pilgrimage visas," said Singh. "So,
I am not ready to accept the interpretation that there is an influx of minorities
or Hindus from that side," he added. Pakistan authorities had on August 10 allowed
a group of Hindu pilgrims to cross into India after seven hours of detention,
following reports that they were planning to migrate in order to escape from abductions
and attacks on their business establishments. The detention came after reports
of an attempt at migration surfaced in the local media, even though the pilgrims
carried valid month-long visas.
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