Anticipating fresh flare of tensions between the armies of India and Pakistan in the next 48 hours large number of residents from forward villages of Poonch shifted to safer places on Sunday.
According to ground reports villagers living in the Mankote area which witnessed intense exchange of fire on saturday shifted women and children along with their live stock to safer areas to ensure their safety. A JCO of the Indian army attained martyrdom in ceasefire violation in the same area on saturday evening. The area witnessed intense shelling from across the line of control since 6.00 a.m on sunday. Intermittent firing continued in the area till late evening.
large number of houses were hit by splinters of mortar shells but no major loss of life and property was recorded till last reports came in. Villagers informed visiting media teams that shells landed one by one in the close vicinity of their houses and caused minor damages. Between 7.00 to 11.00 a.m intense mortar shelling was reported in the area, the villagers informed while showing signs of damages caused by the shelling from across loC.
"God saved us as none of the shells hit any civilian structure in the area.Most of the shells landed in the jungle area and hit tree tops minimising the impact, the villagers claimed.
The villagers claimed since it is getting difficult to stay put in the forward area due to regular exchange of firing we have shifted our women and children to safer areas. "There is no community bunker in our area and we have to look for safe shelters when firing is on. We cannot even step out from our houses", the villagers said. The villagers claimed every year Pakistan and Indian army exchange heavy fire on August 14-15 during Independence day celebrations and we become victims of firing.
In the evening Pakistan army opened another front in Nowshera sector by targeting forward villages of Kalal, Khori, Manpur, Ganiah of Nowshera tehsil. Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said cross border firing was reported in forward villages of Nowshera tehsil.
The area has been witnessing cross border firing since May 2017 and more than 4000 villagers have been camping in the relief centres set up by the district authorities.