Heavy shelling in Rajouri, Poonch; soldier, 6-yr-old die

Amir Karim Tantray & Shyam Sood

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Rajouri, July 17

Pakistani troops today resorted to heavy shelling in Balakote and Mankote sectors of Poonch district and also targeted Tarkundi and Manjakote sectors in Rajouri. A soldier and a six-year-old girl were killed in Tarkundi sector.

 Naik Muddasar Ahmed  belonged to Duchoo village in Tral, Pulwama district, whereas the girl, Sajida Kafeel, was from Barooti Dadiana village in Rajouri district.

In Manjakote, Muhammad Sharief and his wife Shah Begum of Panjgrain village were injured in heavy  shelling. Shah Begum’s condition was said to be critical. Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said the Pakistani troops opened unprovoked fire on Indian posts in Rajouri sector at 7.30 am. The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. In the exchange of fire, Naik Muddasar Ahmed (37) was grievously injured when mortar shells landed on his bunker. He later succumbed to his injuries. He is survived by his wife Shaheena Muddasar and two children.

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“Naik Muddasar Ahmed was a brave soldier. He loved his job to the core. The nation will remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” Lt Col Mehta said.

Several villages have been affected by the heavy shelling. The district administration has had to shut at least 16 schools for an indefinite period. At least 120 students trapped inside a school in Panjgrain have been evacuated. 

Pakistani troops also violated the ceasefire agreement in Bhimber Gali sector of Poonch district. Rajouri DC Shahid Iqbal Choudhary held a meeting with locals at Panjgrain and briefed them on the arrangements made for setting up camps in case of evacuation, ration and medicine supplies.

Pakistani troops also resorted to unprovoked firing at three villages in Kamalkote area of Uri in Baramulla later in the day, defence sources said. One soldier was injured. 

Media reports in Pakistan said four Pakistani soldiers were killed on Sunday when their jeep, hit by a shell, fell into a river.