Police warns of unexploded shells
Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, May 11: A ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan has brought much-needed relief to residents of the border town of Uri in north Kashmir, who were caught in the crossfire of heavy Pakistani shelling over the past week.
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The guns have fallen silent after days of intense bombardment that followed India’s Operation Sindoor – a military strike targeting nine terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including that of a local pony handler.
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In response, Pakistani forces began pounding civilian areas in Uri and other border areas across Jammu and Kashmir with artillery and mortar shells on the night of May 7, forcing thousands of families to flee with only basic belongings. The violence led to large-scale displacement from the border town.
With the guns now quiet, Uri’s deserted markets are slowly springing back to life. Shops are reopening, and residents are cautiously returning to their homes. “The market opened after four days. There is still fear, but life is slowly returning. As soon as the ceasefire was announced, we opened our shop. Thankfully, there has been no shelling since last night,” said Abdul Rasheed, a local shopkeeper.
Families who had taken shelter in safer areas like Boniyar and Baramulla say they are eager but wary about returning. “We left to save our children. Now that we hear the firing has stopped, we are thankful and planning to return,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Nawa Runda. He added, “We have suffered huge losses due to the shelling-our homes, livestock-and somehow managed to save our lives. Some people have died. We just hope the ceasefire persists.”
Mohammad Aziz Sheikh, another resident from Namla, said, “We live right at the mouth of the border. Every shell lands near our house. We are relieved now. I hope the peace prevails,” he said.
Despite the lull, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have urged residents not to rush back. “Do not return to frontline villages. Lives are at risk as unexploded munitions remain,” the police advisory stated, citing 41 civilian deaths caused by leftover shells in 2023.
More than two lakh residents from areas near the LoC and International Border were evacuated last week.” Bomb Disposal Squads are now being deployed to sanitize affected areas before declaring them safe for return,” police said.
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