Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar/Jammu, Mar 10: India and Pakistani troops traded mortar shelling in Kamalkote sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in which four people were injured and several houses damaged.
A senior official said that Pakistan violated ceasefire in the sector by resorting to unprovoked mortar shelling at Indian posts. He said that the firing started at around 3:30 a.m and there was a lull in between and they again violated ceasefire in the afternoon.
The official said that the Army gave befitting reply to the shelling from Pakistan and intermittent shelling continued for the whole day. The shelling created panic among residents and they took cover in their houses.
However, some shells landed in civilian areas in the village. At least four persons were injured and they have been identified as Riyaz Ahmad Khatana son of Sardar Mohammad Khatana, resident of Kamalkote, Meeena Begum wife of Mohmad Anwar Mir, Asif Ahmad son of Mohammad Anwar Mir and Ashfaq Ahmad son of Mohammad Maqbool Mir.
They were shifted to Uri hospital by the locals with the help of Police. Two of the injured were referred to Srinagar for treatment.
House of one Mohammad Sadiq Barwal son of Bawar Ali Barwal, resident of Batar Jabda Kamalkote was damaged in the shelling. Damage was also caused to several houses in the village.
The area witnessed shelling last week for at least four days between Indian and Pakistani troops after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in the sector. Army also retaliated leading to intense shelling.
The firing led to suspension of the cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade for four days last week. However, this week the trade was normal and trucks from both sides crossed the Aman Setu normally.
Sub-District Magistrate Uri, Reyaz Ahmad Malik, told Excelsior that the intermittent firing was going on during the day and four people injured in the shelling were brought to Uri hospital. He said that some houses were also damaged in the shelling but the assessment is yet to be carried out.
When asked about the shifting of the people from shelling prone area of Kamalkote, Malik said that the firing was going on and it was not safe to shift people from the affected area. He said that at this stage people are comparatively safer in their houses. He said that they will assess the situation tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops today resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations targeting forward posts and villages at four places along the LoC in Poonch district.
The firing was intense in the Krishna Ghati sector, where the Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and firing by small arms from around 4.30 am, which was retaliated to befittingly by the Indian Army.
The cross-border shelling between the two sides continued till 7.30 am. There was no report of any casualty on the Indian side.
Officials said firing and shelling by Pakistan were also reported from the Balnoi and Mankote (both in Mendhar sector), besides from Shahpur sector, all in Poonch district, for a brief period in the early hours of Sunday.
The firing was mild in nature and lasted for a brief period without causing any harm, they said.
On late Saturday as well, the Pakistan army had targeted Indian positions In Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district for several hours.
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