13/11/2020
Unprecedented clashes along LoC post Kargil war
Five troopers among nine killed, dozens injured
Haroon Nabi
Srinagar, Nov 13, KDC: In a major flare up at the LoC in North Kashmir, four soldiers of the Indian Army, a Border Security Force (BSF) sub-inspector, and four civilians were killed and at dozens, including five government personnel, injured after Indian and Pakistani security forces exchanged mortar and small arms fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, reported news agency KDC.
According to reports as the exchange of fire began, locals fled to safer areas and slipped into underground bunkers to escape from live ammunition. People were seen fleeing from markets in Tangdhar and a few residential areas where shells have previously landed.
Divulging details an official told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that the maximum damage was done in north Kashmir’s Uri where four civilians, including a woman and two soldiers, were killed in Loc shelling. In the Haji Peer sector of Nowgam sector, a BSF sub-inspector was killed while three civilians and two soldiers were injured in Tangdhar sector. In Soujian in Poonch, five civilians and two porters were injured when shells started to rain in the hill village, he said.
Army in a statement said it foiled an infiltration attempt at the LoC in the Keran sector even as Pakistan resorted to ceasefire violation in multiple sectors along the LoC.
Meanwhile, the slain in North Kashmir crossfire were identified as Sub Inspector Rakesh Dobhal of BSF, Army Soldier Subodh Ghosh and Hardhan Chandra Roy.
Local sources identified the slain civilians in Uri crossfire as Irshad Ahmed, Toub Mir, Faroqa Begum and Afrar Ahmad son of Latif Ahmad.
Moreover, internet services were also suspended in the frontier district of Kupwara and heavy firing from both sides was on.
Meanwhile, two soldiers were killed while several civilians and soldiers received injuries in Bakhtore sector of Gurez in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.
An official identified the slain soldiers in Gurez crossfire as Naik Satai Bhusha and sepoy Jon Dhale Rushikesh, both residents of Maharashtra and injured as Naik Kale Navnath, Sepoy Khade Uddhav and Sepoy Kirte Yogesh, all residents of Maharashtra.
Local sources identified the injured persons in Gurez crossfire as Rehana Khursheed (14), Daughter of Khursheed Ahamd Ganie, Munaza Jamsheed (12), Daughter of Jamsheed Ahamad, Jabar Ahamad Ganie (72), Son of Laasi Ganie, Sada Begum (62) and Abdul Aziz all the resident of Bagtore Gurez.
Officials said that the heavy shelling was going on in the Bakhtore sector in Gurez when this report was last filled.
An Army official while confirming the shelling in both the frontier sectors of LoC told news agency KDC that Indian Army is giving befitting reply to the ceasefire violation by Pakistani army.
Border residents said that they have witnessed for the first time such intense clashes post the Kargil war.
This year, the LOC firings have broken all previous records with close to 4,000 violations recorded so far. Most of the ceasefire breaches took place south of Pir Panjal, mainly in districts of Poonch and Rajouri. (KDC)