M A I N   N E W S

12 Pak soldiers killed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 4
As the CICA summit opened in Almaty today to work out a plan for ensuring a conflict-free region, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling and firing from across seven sectors. Two civilians were killed and more than 12, including six women, were wounded. One woman was shifted to Jammu Medical College while others were admitted to Poonch and Rajouri hospitals.

The Indian troops retaliated effectively. Defence Ministry sources said in the artillery and mortar shelling, more than 15 Pakistani bunkers across Hurez, Keran, Nowshehra, Hiranagar, Pargwal and Poonch were destroyed, killing at least 12 Pakistani soldiers. The sources said more than 20 Pakistani troops were wounded.

Ministry sources said the mortar and artillery shelling from across the Kargil, Uri, Keran, Guraz, Poonch, Rajouri and Hiranagar sectors caused extensive damage to civilian houses. However, the police said two civilians, including Jabbar Mir of Gagria village in Poonch, was killed.

According to the police, at Seera Jangar village of Rajouri, five civilians were wounded. In the Gurez sector one civilian was killed and two were wounded. More than six cattleheads were killed in the Nowshehra sector.

In the Laam sector, too, the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy mortar shelling. The same was repeated in Hiranagar. At least 10 border villages in Hiranagar, Samba, Khour, Kanachal and R.S. Pora were pounded by Pakistani firing and shelling. Affected villages included Regaal, Mangu Vhak, Saida Chak, Dolma Chak, Karol Matiyala and Bawe.

According to the sources several border roads across Nowshehra and Poonch were destroyed, forcing the Pakistani troops to start the construction of the roads on a war-footing.