Schools closed, cross-LoC bus suspended again
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 17: Tensions further escalated along Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri today when an Army soldier and an infant were killed in heavy mortar shelling by the Pakistan army while three others including two civilians and a jawan were injured prompting Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen AK Bhat warning his Pakistan counterpart Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza that though India was sincere to maintain peace on LoC, it reserves the right to retaliate appropriately.
Heavy shelling forced the district administration to close down Government schools, located close to the LoC while cross-LoC bus between Poonch-Rawlakote route was suspended for second consecutive week in view of shelling and tensions on the LoC, keeping 55 citizens of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) stranded for more than a week, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari told the Excelsior. He added that a Contingency Plan has been put in place to help the border dwellers.
Official sources said that Pakistani troops started heavy mortar shelling and firing with automatic and semi-automatic weapons targeting several forward defence locations and civilian areas in Manjakote, Balakote and Mendhar sectors along LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts at 7.30 am. Indian troops gave befitting response to Pakistan’s ceasefire violations at all the places.
People in several forward villages including Tarkundi, Kanga Gali, Gambhir, Naika Panjgrain and surrounding villages of Manjakote sector in Rajouri district and Barhuti, Balakote Forward, Sandot, Sohala, Panjni and Gulad Top in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch district came under intense shelling and firing from the Pakistan side forcing people to rush back to the houses and bunkers to take protection from shelling.
A mortar shell fired by Pakistan army struck an Army bunker in Tarkundi area of Manjakote sector in Rajouri district in which an Army jawan attained martyrdom while another was injured. Naik Mudassar Ahmed, 37, was seriously injured in mortar shelling along with Naik Firdous Ahmed. Both of them were evacuated to the MI room, where Naik Mudassar succumbed to his injuries.
A Defence spokesman said Naik Mudassar Ahmad belonged to village Duchoo in Tral area of district Pulwama in Kashmir valley and is survived by his wife Shaheena Mudassar and two children.
“Naik Mudassar Ahmad was a brave and sincere soldier. He loved his job to the core. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the spokesman added.
Injured Army soldier Nail Firdous Ahmad of Kulgam was undergoing treatment in the hospital and his condition was stated to be stable.
Another mortar shell fell on roof of the house of Mohammad Kafeel at village Barhuti in Dadiana area of Balakote sector killing nine year old female child Sajida Kafeel daughter of Mohammad Kafeel.
Two more civilians including Shah Begum, 54, wife of Mohammad Sharief and Sharief Ahmad, both residents of Naika Panjgrain were injured in mortar shelling in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district. All injured civilians have been hospitalized and their condition was stated to be stable.
Heavy shelling continued till late in the afternoon followed by intermittent exchange of firing. However, no gun shots or mortar fired were heard in any part of the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts from 2.45 pm onwards, sources said.
They added that several mortar shells fell in the residential areas close to the LoC in which many civilians had narrow escape. Some houses suffered damage in the shelling. People in the shelling-hit villages remained confined to their houses till this evening. Some of them took shelter in the bunkers.
Immediately after the shelling started, the administration swung into action and ordered closure of 16 Government schools, falling within the firing range on LoC in Rajouri district. About 120 students, who were held up in Government school, Panjgrain, were rescued safely by the administration.
All schools in Balakote sector of Poonch district falling on the LoC, have also been closed.
District Magistrate, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, accompanied by SSP Yougal Manhas and other senior officers, rushed to forward areas to oversee arrangements for likely evacuation and emergency response. The DM briefed the locals about necessary arrangements kept in place for establishment of camps in case of any likely evacuation, provision of ration supply in affected villages, essential services and coordination for rescue.
The schools closed for an indefinite period include Primary Schools Sharmabasti, Korapani, Nangal, Tadyalla, Chakwa, Trutta Dhara, Mahal Rajdhani, Kalvatra Mohalla, Lal Beig, Rependi, Kotedhar, Chakli; Middle Schools Naika, Kundinakkar, Paryali, Lambibari and High Schools Khorinar and Dhar.
Government HS Ghambir Brahmna, HSS Kakora, HSS Manjakote, Panchayat Ghar and other locations have been notified as camps for likely evacuation in case the people decide to shift from shelling hit villages to safer locations.
Meanwhile, cross-LoC bus between Poonch-Rawlakote route remained suspended for second consecutive day today in view of heavy Pakistan shelling along LoC in Rajouri district, leaving 55 citizens of PoK stranded in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
The weekly bus, which runs every Monday between two parts of divided State, didn’t run last Monday due to shelling at Chakan-Da-Bagh. Today also, the bus didn’t run between two parts of the divided State. Sources said 55 PoK citizens, who had to board the bus, turned up at the venue but the bus didn’t run.
Last Monday, 35 PoK citizens had to return home and the number today swelled to 55. Administration has decided to approach the concerned authorities for extension of permits of the PoK citizens, which have expired.
Sources said, like last week, the cross-LoC trade was also unlikely to take place on Poonch-Rawlakote route. The trade takes place every week from Tuesday to Friday.
Meanwhile, Indian DGMO Lt Gen AK Bhat today delivered a stern message to his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Shahid Shamshad Mirza that it reserves the right to retaliate appropriately against any incident of ceasefire violation along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
The two DGMOs spoke on the hotline today.
In a telephonic conversation, Lt Gen A K Bhat told his Pakistani counterpart that the Indian Army was sincere about maintaining peace on the LoC but, at the same time, it reserves the right to retaliate against any ceasefire violation.
“We are sincere in our efforts of maintaining peace and tranquility along the LoC provided there was reciprocity”, sources said.
The telephone exchange took place three hours after the Pakistani army fired mortar shells along the LoC in the Poonch and Rajouri districts, killing an Indian Army jawan and a six-year-old girl.
Sources said the conversation was initiated by the Pakistani commander, Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, who raised the issues of the “targeting” of Pakistani army troops and the death of four Pakistani soldiers and one civilian in the Athmuqam sector of PoK facing the Indian Keran sector in Kupwara district last week.
The nearly 10-minute-long conversation over the hotline between the two Army Commanders came amid rising incidents of ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army and a spurt in violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Indian DGMO in response highlighted that all ceasefire violations were initiated by the Pakistan army and the Indian Army only responded appropriately to them,” he said.
Sources said the Indian DGMO put across “emphatically” that the trend of infiltration along the LoC continued with the active support of Pakistani forward posts, impacting peace and tranquility as well as the internal security situation.
“This was evident from continued attempts of sniping and targeting of our troops undertaken through cross border actions duly supported by Pakistani army troops,” he said.
There were 23 incidents of ceasefire violations, one BAT (Border Action Team) attack and two infiltration bids by Pakistan in June, according to the Army.
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