Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): “All of us should be bombed and killed in one go or we should be allowed to live in peace.”
This is the refrain of Nazir Ahmad Shah of a village located along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir’s Kupwara district which was subjected to intense shelling by Pakistani Army yesterday.
Three civilians, including a child, were killed in the Pakistani shelling which also caused widespread destruction to property and livestock in the twin villages of Timuna-Vilgam and Reddi in Chowkibal area.
Timuna-Vilgam and Reddi villages bore the brunt of shelling from across LoC on Sunday afternoon as mortal shells rained on the residential houses.
Nazir Ahmad Shah, a resident of Reddi village, said the intense shelling has caused immense fear among the local populace of Kupwara and they are running for safer places.
“Last afternoon, we felt like the end has arrived,” he said.
Significantly, the Pakistani troops resorted to shelling at a time when the whole world is busy combating the global pandemic of coronavirus.
Shah said the fear was not only from the raining mortars but also about people contracting coronavirus as many locals gathered at the site of destruction, at a time when authorities are advising social distancing.
He said the sufferings of people living close to LoC due to repeated shelling and firing should end once for all.
Shah’s house was completely destroyed in the Pakistani shelling.
“This shelling has been going on since past 30 years but hasn’t yielded anything so far except for the fact that civilian population has always been bearing the brunt,” he said.
“On Sunday, a mortal shell landed in the premises of my house. The belongings in my lawns were up in flames. I have never seen this thing before, even though I am witness to a number of exchanges of fire between the armies of India and Pakistan in Kupwara district,” he said.
The residents of these villages spent the last night under open sky, many of them without food, fearing that firing may again resume.
Another reason to stay awake for the whole night was the damage caused to at least six residential houses, the death of three civilians – a woman, an 18-year-old youth and a child — and also the extensive loss caused to their livestock.
Firdous Ahmad Wani, a resident of Timuna-Vilgam village, said the slain woman, Shameema Begum, has left behind four small kids.
“Her husband is a poor labourer. He is in deep shock,” Wani said.
Irshad Ahmad Kataria, also a local from Timuna-Vilgam village, said some shells landed in the civilian population areas causing immense damage to property which claimed life of a kid.
“The kid’s father has also suffered critical injuries in one hand. Almost three residential houses including a cow and ox were also charred to death in our village,” said Kataria.
“This should now end as we are suffering each single day,” he pleaded.
Locals told NVI that they mourned not only the three persons who died in shelling but also the livestock, including a dozen cows and sheep besides an Ox.
As per the locals, charred cattle including sheep and cows lie scattered amid the debris of residential houses in Timuna and Reddi villages.
The locals said that over the years, the village has suffered huge losses. “But on Sunday, we thought it is the end of us,” said one resident who refused to give his name.
“Many of us slept without food,” another resident of Reddi village told NVI.
In view of the destruction and fear caused by the Pakistani shelling, the residents of these villages have appealed to Government of India and also the J&K Lieutenant Governor Girish Chander Murmu to order immediate construction of underground bunkers “for the safety of villagers” living in Kupwara district.
