Shelling triggers panic in villages, even far away from LoC in Kupwara

Srinagar, April 10: Amid coronavirus pandemic, militaries of India and Pakistan on Friday engaged in artillery shelling along Line of Control in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.

The shelling has been reported from Panzgam, Malikpora, TCP, Hafrada and Ferkiyan areas and it has created panic among the residents. At Panzam, many people have left their homes and are moving towards safer locations while others have confined themselves to safer locations within their homes, residents and official sources said.

Not only those living nearby, but the shelling also rattled even far off villages with some villagers saying that they are hearing the roaring sounds for the first time.

“The shelling is so intense that we are for the first time hearing it hear,” said Sajjad Ahmad, a resident of Tarathpora, a densely populated village which is very far away from the LoC.

“The houses were shaken with every sound of the shell,” he said.

Official sources told GNS that the heavy “artillery” shelling was started by Pakistan across the LoC and the Indian army responded in equal proportions.

“It is a ceasefire violation as Pakistan resorted to unprovoked artillery shelling and the army is giving them a befitting reply,” the official who was not authorized to speak to media told GNS on the condition of anonymity.

GNS