17 Persons Also Injured As India, Pak Trade Mortar Shells, Fire In North Kashmir, Poonch
Zaffar Iqbal/Jahangir Lolabi/Murtaza Mushtaq/M S Nazki
Baramulla/ Kupwara/Poonch (GNS): Five soldiers and four civilians including a 7-year-old boy were killed while 17 persons were injured along Line of Control in north Kashmir and Poonch district of Jammu region on Friday.
They said that four civilians including the 7-year-old boy and two army soldiers were killed in alleged Pakistan firing and shelling in Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Official sources told GNS that the five civilians were also injured in the heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistan along the LoC in the Uri.
The shells also landed in civilian areas, resulting in seven casualties among the inhabitants besides damage to at least a dozen houses, they said.
The killed civilians have been identified as Afrar Ahmad (7) son of Latief Ahmad of Gohallan Uri, Irshad Ahmad (48) son of Karamat Hussain of Sarai Baday, Tahir Ahmad Mir (36) son of Jaleel Ahmad Mir of Sultan Daki and Farooqa Begum (36) wife of Bashir Ahmad of Balakote. Two army men were also killed and were identified as GNR Sudoch Goush (23) and Hawaldar Hardaran Chandra (40) from 59 MED regiment and were posted Rustam Post, they said.
One civilian namely Syed Nadir Hussain (36) son of Peer Hussain of Kamalkot lost both of his legs in the shelling and was shifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment, they said.
The other injured have been identified as Sajad Khan (62)son of Mohammad Aslam khan of Balkote Uri, Saif-u-d-din Qureshi(63) son of Fiqur Ullaha Qureshi of Kamalkote Uri, Hakim Bee (50) wife of Abdul Hamid of Gohallan Uri and Sarfraz Ahmad (18) son of Lateif Ahmad of Gohallan and Uri shifted to SDH Uri. Army said that troops gave a befitting response to the ceasefire violation.
Meanwhile, nearly one dozen residential houses were damaged in Hajipeer and Kamalkote sector of Uri due the shelling.
Two soldiers were killed while three others besides five civilians were injured in alleged ceasefire violation by Pakistan along Gurez sector in Bandipora, officials said.
India and Pakistan armies also exchanged mortar shells and fire along LoC in Panzgam and other areas in Kupwara district, official sources said.
They said Pakistan used small arms and mortar shelling to target positions manned by Indian army LoC around noon.
“Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC in the Panzgam and Tangdhar sectors,” the official sources told GNS, adding, “Indian army is giving befitting replies”. When this report was filed, there was no report about any casualty on either side. However, they said the shelling and firing created panic in the residential areas close to these sectors. Three persons were reported injured in Tanghdar sector.
Meanwhile, a BSF sub-inspector who was injured in firing along LoC in Tootmar Gali Handwara succumbed to the wounds.
Also, five civilians including a middle aged woman and two porters were injured in alleged shelling and firing by Pakistan army along sawjian sector in Poonch district.
They have been identified as Hajra Begum (50) wife of Abdul Salam, Touseef Ahmad and Mohammad Rashad son of mehraj Din, residents of Sawjian Maidan while two porters of 183 BN BSF include Mohammad Afaraz son of Zaman Kahan and Mohammad Ibrahim son of Brahamdin Khan, both residents of Saujian (Chaprian. All the injured have been rushed to the hospital, Station House Officer Mandi Tilk Raj told GNS. (GNS)
