Three civilians including a minor boy and a woman were killed in fresh escalation by the Pakistan Army along the line of control in North Kashmir's Kupwara district on Sunday.
Heavy exchange of firing was also reported from different sectors of Poonch. In response, the Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. A group of local residents in forward areas of Kupwara came out of their homes urging Army men to allow them to shift to safer places before giving a befitting reply to Pakistan.
Till the time of filing the report, the Pakistan Army had intensified mortar shelling in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch. Earlier, firing was reported during day time from Qasba, Kirni areas of Poonch district. Large number of villagers remained closeted inside their houses due to heavy shelling in the forward areas. According to ground reports from Keran sector, Pakistan army targeted several civilian pockets in Chowkibal area of Kupwara after 4.00 p.m using heavy calibre weapons. It is after a long gap, areas located several kilometres away from the line of control were targeted by the Pakistan Army clearly indicating their intention to further escalate the tensions.
Several shells hit residential areas in which three civilians were killed while several others received injuries. Some of the structures also caught fire while others suffered huge damages in direct hits. Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara Anshul Garg confirmed the deaths of three civilians in the area.
Srinagar based Defence Spokesman, Col Rajesh Kalia said, "unprovoked ceasefire violation was initiated by Pakistan in Keran sector of Kupwara at 5.00 p.m". He said, "the Pakistan Army targeted civilian population resulting in killing of three civilians including one woman and a child".
Local authorities identified deceased civilians as 8-year-old Ziyan Bashir, 17-year-old Javid Ahmad and 35 year old Shameema Begum. In Jammu, Defence spokesman, Lt-Col Devender Anand said, "Pakistan army intensified ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu &Kashmir on Sunday". Three back to back ceasefire violations were reported during the day at different intervals.
He said, Pakistan army targeted forward areas along LoC in Qasba and Kirni sectors of Poonch at around 1.40 p.m and later initiated fresh firing in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch using intense shelling with mortars.