Srinagar: Four soldiers and two minors were among seven people injured on Friday as India and Pakistan troops traded heavy gunfire along the line of control (LoC) in the Uri sector of north Kashmir.
Two of the injured soldiers later succumbed to their wounds at a military hospital late on Friday, reports said.
Official sources said that four soldiers were injured in the shelling and were evacuated to nearby army’s medical facility where two of them later succumbed to injuries. The deceased have been identified as Havaldar Gokaran Singh and Naik Shankar S P Coy.
Two other injured soldiers were identified as Havaldar Narayan Singh and Naik Pradeep Bhat.
“Today at about 15:30 hours, Pakistan initiated an unprovoked Ceasefire Violation (CFV) along the LoC in Rampur Sector, District Baramulla (J&K). Three soldiers have been injured in the CFV,” army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said in the afternoon. “Indian Army is retaliating befittingly,” the spokesman had said.
Earlier, four persons namely Shahnaza Bano (12) daughter of Bashir Ahmad, Tahira Bano (20) wife of Liyaqat Ali, Touseef Ahmad Khatana (4) son of Bashir Ahmad Khatana and Hassan Bi wife of Husan Din Koli suffered injuries at Churanda village. According to police several shells landed in civilian areas which also created panic at Chrunda, Batgran, Hathlanga, Mothal, Sahoora, Silikote, Balkote, Nambla, Garkote areas.
Some splinters also landed in the main Uri town very close to the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), reports said.
SDM Uri Reyaz Ahmad Malik also confirmed the injuries due to the shelling. Among the injured, the SDM said that 3 are seriously wounded and have been shifted to Sub-District Hospital Uri for treatment.
The exchange of fire between the two estranged enemies started around 10:00 am along the LoC in Hajipeer sector of Uri, witnesses told Kashmir Observer.
However, as the day approached, firing and cross-LoC shelling intensified and the deafening explosions created panic in Charunda, Batgran, Hathlanga, Mothal, Sahoora, Silikote, Balakote, Nambla, Garkote and other areas of the border town, they said.
In Charunda, a village worst hit over these years in the Indo-Pak border skirmishes, three people, including two minors were injured when a mortar shell exploded near their house before exploding with a bang.
“Intermittent shelling started around 10 in the morning. However, after 2:00 pm, the exchange of fire between the two sides intensified,” Sarpanch Charunda Lal Din told Kashmir Observer over phone.
Lal Din said that all the three injured had to travel by foot to board an ambulance to reach Health Sub Centre Uri as the exchange of fire was going on.
He said the skirmishes were so intense that several shells landed in main town and other parts of the border town.
I had witnessed such a frightening clash after 20 years. It was in 90’s when the two armies would trade fire so heavily,” he said, adding “Many residential houses in the village suffered damages due to the shelling.
“I had witnessed such a frightening clash after 20 years. It was in 90’s when the two armies would trade fire so heavily,” he said, adding “Many residential houses in the village suffered damages due to the shelling.
Pertinently, today’s clash at the LoC comes a day after a teenager was killed in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan had also claimed that a soldier and two civilians were killed in the cross-LoC shelling that took place in Mankote sector of Poonch on Thursday.
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