Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI) Just a few days after a deadly encounter in Keran sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara, Pakistani troops today resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the same area, drawing a strong retaliation by the Indian Army which targeted gun areas, militant launchpads and ammunition dumps on the other side of the LoC.
The Army said that in the retaliatory action, the enemy side suffered heavy damage.
In another ceasefire violation at around 2230 hours in Balakote and Mendhar Sectors in Poonch today, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC. The Defence spokesperson said that the Indian Army was replying befittingly.
Panic gripped at least half a dozen villages in Keran area of Kupwara district this afternoon after heavy shelling by the Pakistani Army. Locals told NVI that they thought it was a war between two sides and they ran for cover with many of them shifting to safer places as the shelling intensified.
“We have seen so many Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) so far in the past 30 years. But today, it was altogether different. There were big bangs all around,” Abdul Jabbar Khatana, a local resident of Keran told NVI over phone.
He said that the impact of shelling was felt in many villages including Zurhama, Jumgand, Farkin and Panzgam, Juktiyal and other adjoining villages too. Defence sources said that the shelling started from across the LoC at around 1300 hrs and continued for an hour. “The troops immediately prepared for the response and the enemy was given a befitting reply within no time,” they said.
Defence spokesperson in Srinagar, Rajesh Kalia said that in the retaliatory action by the Army, launchpads, ammunition dumps and gun areas (of the enemy) were targetted. “There are reports of heavy damage to enemy,” he said.
The CFV comes five days after five soldiers of Special Forces squad of Army were killed in Keran sector while fighting five militants, who had sneaked into this side of LoC. The operation lasted for five days.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, Shriram Ambarkar said that that the cross LoC shelling started early in the afternoon and ended after an hour. “We are trying to find out whether there is any damage to residential houses of civilians,” he said.
The authorities in the district Kupwara had suspended the internet for a few hours as a precautionary measure. The internet services were later restored on all platforms.
