Three civilians, soldiers injured in cross-border shelling in north Kashmir’s Uri

Majid Jahangir 
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 1

Three soldiers and at least three civilians were injured in cross-border shelling in north Kashmir’s Uri sector on Friday, officials said.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement around 2 pm and targeted Indian posts and civilian areas in several villages along the Line of Control in Uri sector, they said, adding Indian troops retaliated the firing and the two sides exchanged heavy artillery.

“Pakistan initiated an Unprovoked Ceasefire Violation (CFV) along the LoC in Baramula district. Three soldiers have been injured in the CFV. Indian Army is retaliating befittingly,” Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.

A four-year-old child was among civilians injured in Churnada village, a police official said.  

The injured were identified as Tahira Begum, 20; Shanaz Akhter, 12; and four-year old Tawseef Ahmad.

“The injured were shifted to sub-district hospital Uri and condition of all the injured is stable,” he added.

A residential house was also damaged in the shelling.

The exchange of firing continued for four hours and it created panic in border villages and most of the people were restricted indoors in Hatlanga, Silikote and Tilawadi. 

It is the second time in the last four days the two armies exchanged heavy firing in the Uri sector.

The LoC in Kashmir has been tense following a gunfight in Keran sector of Kupwara last month, which left five para commandos and same number of militants dead. Days later, the Indian Army targeted militant launch pads and gun positions in Keran sector following a ceasefire violation by Pakistan. 

On April 12, three civilians, including a seven-year-old child, were killed in cross-border shelling in Kupwra.