5 civilians injured as Pak resumes heavy shelling on LoC in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 27: Just five days after Battalion Commanders of India and Pakistan held flag meeting at Chakan-Da-Bagh on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, Pakistani troops this evening resumed heavy mortar shelling and firing on civilian locations in Poonch district, injuring five civilians including a woman.
The August 23 flag meeting between India and Pakistan seems to have no impact as Pakistani troops started heavy mortar shelling and firing targeting forward posts of the Indian Army followed by civilian population at Kirni, Shahpur, Gountrian and Digwar in Poonch sector at 6 pm.
The Indian side retaliated effectively, leading to heavy exchanges which continued till late tonight when the reports last came in.
Reports said that five civilians were injured in forward villages of Bandi Chechian and Qasba in Shahpur area of Poonch sector as they were trapped in mortar shelling while working in their fields and didn’t get a chance to take shelter in houses or bunkers.
The injured have been indentified as Zahid Hussain Shah, Mohammad Qasim, Mohammad Zameel, Parveen Akhtar and Mohammad Safeer.
However, majority of the civilians had returned to their houses around 6 pm when Pakistani troops directly pounded civilian population in forward areas of Poonch sector. They took shelter inside their houses and few bunkers to survive, sources said, adding that number of mortar shells landed close to houses of the people at Bandi Chechian, Qasba and Kirni, which were located right on the LoC in which some houses and other structures including cattle sheds were damaged.
“Indian side gave very befitting report to mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops and inflicted heavy damages on the other side, the details of which were being ascertained,” sources said.
Confirming losses on Pakistan side, they said the details would be available later.
Security forces and people evacuated the injured civilians from the border villages amidst heavy shelling and shifted them to hospital. They had sustained splinter injuries.
Panic gripped the villages in forward areas of Poonch sector after fresh round of mortar shelling, which came after a lull of few days. After Battalion Commander level flag meeting between India and Pakistan on August 23, the civilians living close to the LoC had been anticipating relief from firing and shelling.
However, within five days of the Commanders level meeting, Pakistan violated truce and again started heavy mortar shelling and firing.
At the Battalion Commander level flag meeting, India had charged Pakistan with abetting terror activities and targeting civilian population on the Line of Control (LoC) during mortar shelling and firing.
Heavy shelling and firing on the LoC had been going on after brief intervals in various sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts since May 1 in which Army jawans and civilians have been martyred and injured. The civilian property has also suffered extensive damages. However, the losses have been very heavy on Pakistan side, whose number of soldiers have been killed and injured and several bunkers and posts were destroyed.
On Friday and Saturday, Pakistan had also activated the International Border by resorting to firing, targeting the BSF jawans. A BSF jawan was injured in Arnia sector on Friday while on Saturday, the BSF had retaliated and gunned down three Pakistani Rangers in Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors.
Meanwhile, fresh round of shelling and firing today had cast doubts over resumption of cross-LoC travel and trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route, which was suspended for last seven weeks.
There had been reports that cross-LoC travel and trade could resume tomorrow after Battalion Commanders level flag meeting between India and Pakistan on August 23. However, sources said, a final decision will be taken tomorrow.

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