Minor, Woman from UP among 3 killed in shelling in Kupwara

Srinagar, April 12 (GNS): Three persons including a minor and a woman from Allahabad UP were killed and seven others were injured while as several houses were damaged in cross-LoC shelling in Kupwara district of north Kashmir on Sunday.

A police officer said that the some shells hit the civilian areas at Reddi, Chowkibal and Tumna.

“In the incident, three civilians suffered critical injuries and four persons including two siblings suffered injuries,” the officer said.

He said that the injured were immediately evacuated to nearby health facilities. However, three of them succumbed to injuries on the way and were declared brought dead on arrival by the doctors at the respective Primary Health Centers.

The officer identified the slain as Shamima Begum (37), originally a resident of Allahabad, wife of Gulzar Ahmad Hajam, Javid Ahmad Khan (16) son of late Ghulam Rasool Khan, both residents of Reddi Chowkibal and Zeehsan Bashir (8) son of Bashir Ahmad Khatana of Tumna.

The four persons injured include Ghulam Hassan Pir (60) of Reddi who has been hit in his left arm, Farooq Ahmad Kataria, Bashir Ahmad Kataria, Lal Din Chichee, Saima (12) and Sabiya, daughters of Siraj-ud-Din Badana and 16-year-old Imtiyaz Ahmad Khatria, all residents of Tumina.   

Besides several houses and one car also got damaged after catching fire, the officer said.

Following the shelling, panic and fear gripped in several villages including Reddi, Chowkibal, Tumna and its adjoining areas.

“Unprovoked Ceasefire Violation initiated by Pakistan in Keran Sector at 5 pm,” Defense ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia in a statement issued to GNS said. “Pakistan now targeting civilian population in Kupwara Sector near the Line of Control resulting in the killing of 3 innocent civilians including one woman and a child,” the spokesman added. (GNS)