Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Oct 4: An Army porter was killed and another injured in mortar shelling from Pakistan in Kamalkote sector of Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla sector.
An Army officer said that Pakistani troops fired on Indian posts at Nanak Post in Kamalkote sector of Uri yesterday in which two porters were injured. They have been identified as Ishtiaq Ahmad son of Hakim Din and Ishtiaq Hussain son of Kabir Hussain, both of Kamalkote area of Uri.
Ishtiaq Ahmad later succumbed to injuries while Ishtiaq Hussain is being treated in the hospital and his condition is out of danger.
The firing took place during the day when these porters were carrying supplies to Nanak forward post in Kamalkote. The Army also targeted the Pakistani posts in the sector.
Kamalkote has witnessed intense shelling for last two months between Army and Pakistani troops. Several houses were damaged in this sector and dozens of families have shifted from the area but the administration says no family has shifted from the sector.
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. Over three dozen houses have been damaged in the shelling so far since August.
These villagers near the LoC are facing threat to their lives in absence of underground bunkers. They have been demanding that bunkers be constructed in these areas as a safety measure.
In the meantime, the normal life remained disrupted in Kashmir.
There were no restrictions in majority parts of the Valley. However, in Nowhatta and other areas, police and para-military troops were not allowing the movement of people ahead of Friday prayers.
The Friday congregational prayers were offered in majority of the mosques. However, no prayers were allowed in Jamia Masjid for last two and a half months.
The prayers passed off peacefully with no major untoward incident reported from any part of the Valley. Security forces were heavily deployed around the mosques where the Friday prayers were allowed but the number of people who prayed in these mosques was very less.
The markets were closed and public transport was off the roads. In the morning, the markets were open and the flea market at Polo View was open throughout the day. The private traffic was normal in parts of Kashmir with traffic jams witnessed in some areas of Civil Line of Srinagar.
The schools across the Valley are open but the students failed to turn up as parents were unwilling to send their wards.
The mobile telephone services and Internet including broadband services continue to remain suspended since August 5.
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