Life disrupted in Kashmir
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 30: A man was killed and seven others including 5 children were injured in intense Line of Control (LoC) shelling in North Kashmir’s Macchil sector today.
A senior Army officer said that the shelling started this morning at around 7 am in Thali area when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire. He said that the Indian troops fired heavily and gave befitting reply to Pakistan and inflicted casualties on them.
The officer said that both the sides used mortar shells to target each other positions and the firing continued till 9.30 am. He said that 18 Madras 159 Field Regiment of Army gave befitting reply to Pakistan troops and inflicted heavy casualties on them.
One person Mohammad Yusuf Khan, 55, son of Wali Mohammad Khan was killed when shell landed on his house. Seven persons were also injured in the shelling and they have been identified as Shabnam Khan, 60, Ghulam Mohammad Khan, 45, Uzair Khan, 6, Tariq Ahmad Khan, 9, Muneer Ahmad Khan, 8, Aqib Khan, 10 and Nayeema Bano, 7.
Two of the injured Uzair Khan and Muneer Ahmad Khan have been shifted to SKIMS hospital in Srinagar for treatment.
There have been frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan in North Kashmir along the LoC since August 5 with Uri and Kupwara worst hit by the shelling. Several houses were damaged in this sector and dozens of families have shifted from the area.
The villages of Dulanja, Batar, Mariyan, Kamalkote, Chakra, Isham, Mothal, Silikote, Hathlanaga, Balkote, Tilawari, Chotali, Sumawali, Maidanan, Gagarhill, Tilawari, Churanda and Banali have been affected in recent shelling in Uri. Over three dozen houses were damaged in the shelling so far since August.
The Tanghdar has also been worst affected where several villages are in the direct firing range. The people living along the LoC villages are facing constant threat and they have been demanding bunkers for their safety. Some of the bunkers were constructed before 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan along the LoC but they were damaged in 2005 earthquake.
In the meantime, police and security forces were heavily deployed across Kashmir to prevent any protests after yesterday’s stone pelting incidents.
The shops remained closed and traffic was off the roads. However, amid sporadic clashes, class 10th and 12th exams were conducted here today in which over one lakh students appeared.
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