Indian forces personnel patrolling near the line of control – File Pic
Srinagar: A woman was killed and two other people injured on Friday as India and Pakistan troops traded heavy gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Baramulla district prompting district authorities to evacuate the villagers towards the safer places.
48-year-old Akhter Begum, wife of Zahoor Ahmad Chichi was killed after a shell landed near her house in Batgran village during cross-LoC shelling on Friday afternoon, Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) Uri Riyaz Ahmad Malik told Kashmir Observer. Two more people, including a woman identified as Parveena Begum, wife of Shabir Ahmad Sheikh were injured in similar circumstances in Nambla village of the border town.
He said that the injured people have been removed to the hospital for treatment, while the villagers have been evacuated and shifted to the NHPC building at Bandi.
“We are also evacuating people from other affected villages. Around eight villages are bearing brunt of shelling. Intermittent exchange of fire between two sides is going on,” Malik added.
He identified the affected villages as Batgran, Charunda, Hathlanga, Soura, Nambla, Mothal, Silikote and Thajal.
“We are keeping a watch on the situation. If need be, we will shift other villagers to the boys higher secondary school,” Malik said.
Sarpanch Charunda, Lal-Din Mohammad told Kashmir Observer that the intermittent exchange of firing between the two sides started around 8 am. In the afternoon, he said the exchange of fire intensified triggering panic and fear among the villagers.
“Akhter Begum was rushing towards her house when a shell exploded near the veranda of her house. The splinter ripped her abdomen killing her on the spot,” he said.
“Scores of shells landed in Charunda villages damaging over a dozen odd houses. The villagers are reeling under fear due to the flare-up between India and Pakistan armies,” he added.
Meanwhile, Army’s Srinagar based spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia in a statement issued here said that Pakistan troops violated ceasefire in the early hours today in Rampur sector by firing mortars and other weapons.
“Befitting response is being given,” he added.
Pertinently, two months earlier on this day, three civilians, including a minor, were killed while four others were injured in cross-LoC shelling in Keran sector of Kupwara district.
Cross-LoC Shelling Rattles Poonch
Meanwhile India and Pakistan troops continued trading fire for the fifth consecutive day Friday along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, a day after a soldier was killed and a civilian hurt in Pakistan shelling in Rajouri district.
Pakistani troops shelled forward posts and villages along the LoC in two sectors of Poonch in violation of the ceasefire agreement, officials said.
There have been unprovoked cross-border firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC for the fifth consecutive day, they said.
“At about 1615 hours today, Pak army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Kirni and Qasba sectors in district Poonch,” a defence PRO said.
The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, he said.
On Thursday, a soldier was killed and a civilian injured when Pakistani troops heavily shelled villages and forward posts along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch district.
Several houses were damaged in intense firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops on Wednesday.
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