LoC flare-up: Two civilians killed, five others injured

KUPWARA/POONCH — A 40-year-old man was among two persons killed and five others, including a woman, injured as India and Pakistan troops exchanged fire along the Line of Control in Karnah area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Poonch districts on Friday.

A senior Army officer said that Pakistan Army resorted to ceasefire violation along the LoC by firing small arms and mortars, resulting in injuries to six civilians at separate places. “Army gave befitting reply,” he added.

Official sources identified the injured as Mohammad Arif from Shamspora, Mohammad Yaqoob from Baghballa Kachadiyan and Rafaqat Hussain Shah from Kochadaiyaan, 42-year-old Hamida Begum wife Mohammad Akbar, Zakir Khan (24) and Nasser Ahmad Khan, all residents of Rangward.

All three injured persons were shifted to nearby hospital wherefrom three persons—Mohammad Arif with splinter injury on head, Mohammad Yaqoob Mir having forehead splinter injury and Mohammad Arif with injury on lower back and groin—were shifted to SKIMS Soura for advanced treatment.

Later, Mohammad Arif succumbed to injuries while condition of the two others is stated to be critical, the officials said.

Meanwhile, sources said that one civilian was killed in Tain Mankote in Poonch. He has been identified as Mohammad Sadiq son of Feroz Din.

Meanwhile, Army officials here said that Pakistani Army also violated ceasefire along the LoC in Uri by resorting to unprovoked firing.

The Pakistani troops fired small arms and mortar shells in the Boniyar sector of Uri in Baramulla district, they said.

The Army gave a befitting reply to the “unprovoked aggression and retaliated in adequate measure,” they added. However, there were no reports about injury to any person so far.