Heavy Pak firing on 7 posts: toll 34
From Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 2 — The death toll due to firing by Pakistani troops along the line of control has gone up to 34, with the death of three more persons, including two women, in the Uri sector today. Shelling by Pak troops continued in Machchil and Karnah sectors of Kupwara district and Pargwal sector of Jammu today.

Defence sources here said that reports of firing had come in from Uri sector of Baramulla district today and Machchil sector of Kupwara district this morning. The police said 13 houses were damaged in shelling today in the Uri sector. Till yesterday at least 30 houses had been damaged in the Uri sector, while six persons had lost their lives.

The death included 26 civilians, eight of them women, and seven securitymen. More than 50 persons were wounded.

A large number of people in the affected areas have migrated to "safer places", according to the Director General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat. He told The Tribune that the Army and police had launched safety measures in vulnerable areas. Additional deployment of troops and police personnel had been made in the affected areas to meet any eventuality. Residents of Bandi Brahmna, Namla, Garkote Kandi villages in the Uri sector have been shifted to safer places. Those from Gurez area have been shifted to Bandipore following continuous shelling for many days.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly today visited Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura and Bone and Joint Surgery Hospital here today and enquired about the welfare of the injured. At least 11 wounded villagers along the Line of Control (LoC) have been admitted to hospitals here. Of them, two injured, a three-year old boy and 40 years old Ashai Bibi, have lost their feet and undergone surgery for amputation.

An official spokesman said that the Chief Secretary spoke to the injured and their attendants and conveyed their sympathies to them, assuring them of government support for their specialised treatment, besides relief. He asked the Director, SKIMS, Dr Merajuddin and the Principal, Medical College, Dr Phoola Koul to provide all facilities including food, to the attendants of the injured also.

He said the government was concerned over Pakistan's continuous heavy shelling of civilian areas.

The Finance Minister, Mr Mohammad Shafi who extensively toured seven border villages in the affected Uri sector Saturday, said that the relief measures had been launched. Addressing a large number of people in Uri town, he announced immediate ad hoc relief of Rs 25,000 for each damaged house, Rs one lakh to the next of kin of each killed and immediate relief of Rs 5000 to each of the injured.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah is presently in London. He had earlier condemned the unprovoked firing and shelling by Pak troops along the LoC during the past few days.

In his absence, the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly and the Director General of the State Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat have been engaged in reviewing the situation.

PTI adds: Pakistani troops have targeted seven forward Indian posts along the international border and Line of Control (LoC) in Samba and Poonch sector of Jammu division since last evening, official sources said here today.

The sources said Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing from across the border in Chilas and its adjoining forward posts in Poonch sector last night.

Indian troops retailiated and the exchange of firing continued till this morning. There were no reports of casualities or damage from the Indian side so far.

Pakistani rangers also resorted to intermittent firing on Khora, Manguchak, Chilayari and Paharpur border outposts in Samba sub-sector from 9 a.m. yesterday to 4 p.m. today, a Border Security Force spokesman said.

India's attitude irresponsible: Sharif

ISLAMABAD Aug 2 (PTI) — Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today accused India of indulging in "irresponsible attitude" at the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and said unrest in the region was neither in the interest of India nor Pakistan.

"India should avoid irresponsible attitude at the LoC and air space violations of Pakistan," Mr Sharif told a press conference on his arrival here from Colombo where his talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on resumption of the Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary level talks failed.

"India, being a nuclear power, should realise its responsibilities in restoring peace in the region," Mr Sharif said adding "unrest in the region would not be in the interest of the two nuclear states."

Pakistan’s Kashmir Affairs Minister Abdul Majid Malik warned his country’s troops would give a "befitting response" if Indian forces pursued separatist militants across the border, a Reuters report quoting APP news agency said.