A resident looks at damaged house after cross border shelling along LoC in Kupwara district- (KO File Pic)
Srinagar: Two civilians were killed while five others, including a woman were injured on Friday as India and Pakistan troops traded heavy gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Kashmir Valley, the cross-LoC shelling started in Nowgam sector of the border district Kupwara in the early hours of Friday, witnesses told Kashmir Observer. After Nowgam, the armies of the two nuclear countries traded fire in Karnah, Keran and Macchil sectors in the frontier district.
“The cross-border shelling was so frightening that the villagers did not dare to step out of the house. The deafening sounds of explosions created fear and anxiety among the villagers,” said Shabir Ahmad of Karnah.
He said the intense shelling between the two sides continued for several hours due to which several shells landed in the villages of Baghbela, Shamspora. Ahmad said three people were injured in the cross-LoC shelling when the trio were working at a under construction house
He identified the trio as Syed Rafaqat Hussain, Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Arif Ahmad Chichi of Shamspora.
Chichi succumbed to his injuries at the district hospital Kupwara.
“Six people were injured in shelling by Pakistan troops. Of them, one succumbed to his injuries. The condition of a few is critical,” SSP Kupwara Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar told Kashmir Observer.
Mohammad Iqbal, a resident of Rangwar TP said that three people were injured in the shelling that started around 9:30 and continued till 2pm. Among the injured, he said were two brothers identified as Zakir Hussain Khan and Naseer Hussain Khan and a woman Hameeda Begum
“We have could hear around 300 explosions. Many shells exploded just 100 metres away from my house,” he said.
“Over a dozen people also suffered injuries due to fall when they were trying to save themselves from the mortar shells. I have never seen such an intense clash between the two armies,” he added.
Iqbal said that several houses were also damaged in the cross-LoC shelling that continued for several hours.
Guns also roared in the Uri sector of Baramulla district on Friday afternoon.
Officials said that Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and resorted to heavy mortar shelling on army posts in Boniyar Uri.
The army, they said, retaliated effectively to unprovoked provocation by Pak troops.
The officials said no reports of injuries were received in the cross-LoC shelling in the border town.
Meanwhile, a 65-year-old man was killed in cross-LoC shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district: officials, PTI reported on Friday night. The deceased has been identified as Muhammad Sidiq of Mendhar.
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