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ZEHRU NISSA Srinagar, Oct 30: Over 1631 civilians have been hit in face with pellets by security forces in the past 114 days, with 1100 of them having inju- ries in eyes, a trauma that has cost them their vision, partially or fully. Hundreds of pellet hit people are still waiting for vision corrective surgeries in hope of undoing the damage caused by pellets perforating their eyes. Records consolidated from SMHS Hospital Sri- nagar and SKIMS Medical College Hospital Bemina Srinagar has revealed that at least 1500 have been hit by pellets in and around eyes. Of these, 1100 people have had pellet injuries right in their eyes, damaging their visual areas and resulting in visual impairment of vary- ing degree. As per records at SMHS Hospital, 970 people with pellet injuries in eyes had been received. Of these, 44 people had injuries in both eyes. In addition, 524 people with pellet injuries around eyes have also been treated during the same period at this General Specialty Hospi- tal. “These people had pellet injuries, even fractures on forehead, nose, cheeks, and jaws but their eyes were spared,” a medico at SMHS Hospital Srinagar said. At SKIMS Medical Col- lege Hospital Srinagar, 131 people with injuries in eyes have been admitted during the same period. All of these, doctors said, had grave inju- ries causing loss of vision. The hospital has also admit- ted seven people whose both eyes had been hit by pellets. In addition to the two hos- pitals, a few pellet injured people have also been taken outside the state, doctors at the two hospitals said. “A handful of pellet injured, due to various reasons, preferred to travel outside the state for treatment,” a doctor at SMHS Hospital said. Even though at SMHS Hospital 513 people have had vitrectomies, a proce- dure for removing vitreous humor (clear fluid filling the eyeball), hundreds are in line Published from Srinagar | Jammu Regd. No. JKNP-5/SKGPO-2015-2017 Vol: 29 No. 297 Pages: 16 Rs. 5.00 epaper.GreaterKashmir.com GreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net, GreaterKashmir.news MONDAY, October 31, 2016 29, Muharram , 1438 29 th Year of publication GK Home Reach Programme Sample collection and report delivery at your doorstep *# +91 99065 39 837 +91 94190 53 859 CALL US OUT AT *Services within radius of 20 kms from Lalchowk , charges as applicable #Terms and conditions apply Clinical Laboratory We will stay united: Yasin Malik ‘Kashmir struggle similar to Palestinian Intifada, breaks do occur’ ‘Mehbooba, Naeem Akhter responsible for burning of schools’ Another school burnt in Anantnag Mystery continues, Govt clueless SYED RIZWAN GEELANI Srinagar, Oct 30: Even as schools continue to go up in flames across Kashmir, the mystery continues as govern- ment seems to be clueless on the hands behind the actions. In the past three months, around 27 schools including two private educational insti- tutions and two CBSE affiliated schools were set afire, however the authorities are yet to iden- tify the aackers. The aacks are being made at a time when JK government is pressing for reopening of schools, which continue to remain shut for the past four months. "It is unfortunate that schools are being attacked almost every day. Now the incidents are happening in broad daylight which poses a challenge for us to make schools functional," said Direc- tor School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat. He said the department is making efforts to involve the Village Education Commit- tees (VECs) to safeguard the schools from such incidents. "I took a meeting with CEOs and directed them to involve VECs who will play a role to prevent fire incidents. We have directed school heads to ensure duties of chowkidars in schools and our district officers will also make surprise visits to the institutions to monitor duties of chowkidars," Bhat said. Police have directed its SHOs to take measures for preventing aacks on educa- tional institutions. Burning of schools abhorrent, unacceptable: Omar GK NEWS NETWORK Srinagar, Oct 30: National Confer- ence Working President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday expressed disappointment and grief over incidents of schools being burnt in various parts of the Valley and said this was an abhorrent ploy to destroy the future of our children. In a statement, Omar said the administration is respon- sible for protecting the education infrastructure in the State and it should take the sternest possible action against those elements that are found guilty of such incidents of arson. Omar Abdullah also said the Hurriyat leadership should realize the costs of its reluctance and delay to condemn such behavior unequivocally. “Our schools hold the key to self-reliance, dignity and empowerment of our future generation. An assault on our schools is an assault on our children, their future and their dreams. These are clear, unambiguous aempts to rob our children of education and intellectual growth and there can be no doubt that these elements who aack our schools are the enemies of our children and the enemies of enlightenment”, Omar Abdullah said. Boomline In 114 Days, Over 1600 Hit By Pellets In Face, 1100 Have Eye Injuries Hundreds in queue for vision corrective surgeries 1101 HIT IN EYE 524 HIT AROUND EYE 51 INJURED IN BOTH EYES 202 USABLE VISION/VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OF VARYING DEGREE 24 EYE REMOVED/ LOST 300 VITAL VISUAL AREAS DAMAGED ABID BASHIR Srinagar, Oct 30: Likening Kashmir movement with Palestinian Intifada, Chair- man Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muham- mad Yasin Malik, Sunday said that unity among pro- freedom leadership forged after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani will continue and there are no differences on basic issue. He said the ongoing upris- ing has once again attracted global attention towards Kashmir and New Delhi has been shaken by steadfast- ness and resolve of people. Addressing media men here, Malik said, “Unfor- tunately some writers and columnists are trying to create confusion by writing that some constituent bodies of Hurriyat Conference (G) and Hurriyat Conference (M) are not supporting the joint program. My suggestion to these columnists is to intro- spect and stop working at the behest of their masters. I want to tell the people of Kashmir that our unity will remain intact. This unity will take the Kashmir move- ment forward,” he said. He said in the past 114 days of uprising, not a single leader has objected to the pro- grams issued jointly by the resistance leadership. “There can be differences of opinion on smaller issues. But the fact remains that we don’t have any difference on the basic issues,” the JKLF chief said. Asked why Hurriyat Conference(G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Hur- riyat Conference(M) chair- man Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met the recent delegation ABID BASHIR Srinagar, Oct 30: JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik Sunday accused the CM Meh- booba Muſti and Education Minister Naeem Akther of being responsible for burning of schools in Kashmir stating that “government has resorted to direct confrontation with stu- dents.” “In 1984, we too were students when G M Shah was the Chief Minister of J&K. Students from various colleges went to the then Divisional Commissioner and sought for change in the session as we had not com- KHALID GUL Anantnag, Oct 30: Unknown persons set ablaze a Government Higher Sec- ondary School in Anantnag district of South Kashmir while a Vidyalaya school was also damaged in a fire incident which police said was caused due to short cir- cuit on Sunday. Reports said that Gov- ernment Higher Secondary School in Kabamarg-Diyal- gam of Anantnag was dam- aged in a blaze. “Fire emerged mysteri- ously at around 4 p.m. and spread fast,” an official said. Fire and emergency ser- vices rushed to the spot and doused the flames not before causing extensive damage to school building. Confirming the fire incident, Deputy Commis- sioner Anantnag Syed Abid Rasheed Shah said the school has been torched by some miscreants. Earlier, a Vidyalaya school was damaged in a blaze in Aishmuqam area of Anantnag. “The Principal’s chamber in Jawahar Navodaya Vidy- alaya (JNV) Aishmuqam caught fire in wee hours on Sunday. However, the intervention of school staff and locals prevented the chamber from any extensive damage,” an official said. He said that fire tenders immediately rushed to the spot and the flames were doused immediately. “Only an almirah, computer and matting was damaged in the fire incident,” the offi- Fire tenders trying to control fire in Government Higher Secondary School Kabamarg, District Anantnag. Mir Wasim/GK Checking in Srinagar. Aman Farooq/GK Aman Farooq/GK See We will stay...on Pg-10 See Another school...on Pg-10 See Mystery...on Pg-10 See Burning of schools...on Pg-10 See Mehbooba, Naeem...on Pg-10 Shutdown continues across Kashmir 4 youth detained in Ganderbal, 9 held in Samboora DAY 114 ABID BASHIR Srinagar, Oct 30: Shut- down was observed across Kashmir for the 114th consecutive day while as clashes against the noc- turnal raids and arrests were reported from vari- ous areas on Sunday. Reports of schools being put on fire by unknown persons con- tinued to pour in as two more schools were gutted in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district taking the total number of edu- cational institutions set ablaze so far to 25. Markets opened in Sri- nagar and elsewhere after 5 p.m. on the relaxation call given by the joint resistance leadership. The major markets that include Regal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street and Residency Road wit- nessed huge rush of cus- tomers while as Sunday market was abuzz with shoppers. Private vehicle movement also increased on the roads after 5 p.m. Vendors had set up stalls from Zero Bridge to Amira Kadal. Shoppers could be seen purchasing winter clothes. Meanwhile, reports said that heavy deploy- ment of forces was made in sensitive areas of Srinagar to prevent any protest. Reports from Laway- pora area of Srinagar said that forces con- ducted nocturnal raids triggering fear in the area. The raids trig- gered protests on which forces fired dozens of tear gas shells. Accord- ing to witnesses, at least seven people includ- ing two elderly men were detained during the raids. Two elderly persons were identified as Ghulam Mohiudin Parray and Khursheed Ahmed Parray. Reports of clashes were reported from north Kashmir’s Bandipora area. A group of youth appeared in See Shutdown...on Pg-10 LoC Situation Uneasy calm in Machil, firing in Keran More troops deployed as situation has escalated: Army Massive search operation underway in Kupwara ‘Militants hiding in dense forests’ SHABIR IBN YUSUF Srinagar, Oct 30: The Special Operation Group (SOG) of JK Police and 47 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army have launched a massive joint search opera- tion in Kandi belt of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Sunday after a tip-off about the presence of presence of mili- tants in the area. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, Shamsh- er Hussain, said that there was exchange of fire. “While we were laying the cordon, the hiding mil- itants opened fire,” the SSP told Greater Kashmir. “The operation is underway and since then there has been no firing.” Sources in security estab- lishment said that cordon was established in Kandi belt after information about the pres- ence of one militant. Later, they said the more area was cordoned off. “Joint parties are searching the area,” sources said. “Kandi belt is transit between Lolab and Bandipora, so a massive combing of forests is going on in the area,” sources said. Less than a week ago (Octo- ber 24), police said it killed Lashker-e-Toiba Commander in Lolab area of Kupwara. Sources further said that Army have launched mas- sive combing operations in the adjoining areas of Line of Control in Uri, Nowgam, Keran, Tangdhar, Gurez and Machil Sectors. Army have claimed that in Nowgam Sector of Handwara, Pakistani Rangers have given cover to militants. “They opened fire three times on our posts and gave them cover for infiltration,” they claimed. “The vigil in these sectors has been beefed up,” sources said, adding that these areas have emerged as favored infil- tration routes for militants over the past quite some time. SHABIR IBN YUSUF Srinagar, Oct 30: A day after the killing of a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and alleged muti- lation of an army soldier’s body, eerie calm prevailed in Machil sector on Line of Control while intermittent firing was reported from Keran sector of Kupwara dis- trict in north Kashmir on Sunday. In both the sectors, there has been heavy cross border shell- ing since Friday that resulted in killing of a BSF personnel and an army soldier while as a woman was injured. “There is clam in Machil sector since last evening,” a senior Army officer of 15 Corps told Greater Kashmir Sunday evening. He said there was exchange of fire in Keran sector on Sunday. “Troops are vigilant and are retaliating to any firing from Pakistan side,” the Army officer added. The officer informed that more Army columns have been deployed in most of the sectors of north Kashmir as, what he said, there has been escalation in cross-border shelling. The people from both sides of LoC had long borne the brunt of skirmishes and artillery duels until the rival Indian and Paki- stani troops reached a historic truce agreement in November 2003. On Saturday evening, Army said that they had destroyed four Pakistan posts in the Keran sector along the LoC. “Heavy casualties were inflicted in the massive assault,” Army had said. Earlier in the day (Saturday), Army sepoy Mandeep Singh was killed and his body was mutilated in Machil sector of Kupwara district near LoC while as a BSF trooper was also killed. Pertinently, for the first time in 13 years, Army on Saturday alleg- edly targeted civilian population in Neelum valley of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) injuring at least three persons – one of them a tourist. Reports said that the upper belt of Neelum valley also reso- nated with the sound of gunfire on the night of October 27 but it was directed at each other’s army posts. However, on Saturday, the Indian army reportedly targeted a rest house along the icy Neelum River in famous Karen village, leaving a woman, a child and a tourist injured. Pertinently, there has been an increase in ceasefire violations after India said it carried out surgi- cal strikes on militant launch pads along the LoC with Pakistan on September 29. The surgical strikes, India said, were carried out after September 18 militant attack on Army installation in Uri that killed 19 soldiers. India had accused Pakistan of being involved in the strike, but Islam- abad has dismissed the allega- tions as baseless. See In 114 Days...on Pg-10 CMYK
Transcript of Rs. 5.00 GreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net...
ZEHRU NISSA
Srinagar, Oct 30: Over 1631 civilians have been hit in face with pellets by security forces in the past 114 days, with 1100 of them having inju-ries in eyes, a trauma that has cost them their vision, partially or fully. Hundreds of pellet hit people are still waiting for vision corrective surgeries in hope of undoing the damage caused by pellets perforating their eyes.
Records consolidated from SMHS Hospital Sri-nagar and SKIMS Medical College Hospital Bemina Srinagar has revealed that
at least 1500 have been hit by pellets in and around eyes. Of these, 1100 people have had pellet injuries right in their eyes, damaging their visual areas and resulting in visual impairment of vary-ing degree.
As per records at SMHS Hospital, 970 people with pellet injuries in eyes had been received. Of these, 44 people had injuries in both eyes.
In addition, 524 people with pellet injuries around eyes have also been treated during the same period at this General Specialty Hospi-tal. “These people had pellet
injuries, even fractures on forehead, nose, cheeks, and jaws but their eyes were spared,” a medico at SMHS
Hospital Srinagar said.At SKIMS Medical Col-
lege Hospital Srinagar, 131 people with injuries in eyes
have been admitted during the same period. All of these, doctors said, had grave inju-ries causing loss of vision.
The hospital has also admit-ted seven people whose both eyes had been hit by pellets.
In addition to the two hos-pitals, a few pellet injured people have also been taken outside the state, doctors at the two hospitals said. “A handful of pellet injured, due to various reasons, preferred to travel outside the state for treatment,” a doctor at SMHS Hospital said.
Even though at SMHS Hospital 513 people have had vitrectomies, a proce-dure for removing vitreous humor (clear fluid filling the eyeball), hundreds are in line
Published from Srinagar | Jammu Regd. No. JKNP-5/SKGPO-2015-2017 Vol: 29 No. 297 Pages: 16 Rs. 5.00 epaper.GreaterKashmir.comGreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net, GreaterKashmir.news
MONDAY, October 31, 2016 29, Muharram , 1438 29th Year of publication
GK Home Reach Programme
Sample collection and report delivery at your doorstep*#
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Call uS out at
*Services within radius of 20 kms from lalchowk , charges as applicable #terms and conditions apply
Clinical Laboratory
We will stay united: Yasin Malik‘Kashmir struggle similar to Palestinian Intifada, breaks do occur’
‘Mehbooba, Naeem Akhter responsible for burning of schools’
Another school burnt in Anantnag Mystery continues, Govt clueless
SYED RIZWAN GEELANI
Srinagar, Oct 30: Even as schools continue to go up in flames across Kashmir, the mystery continues as govern-ment seems to be clueless on the hands behind the actions.
In the past three months, around 27 schools including two private educational insti-tutions and two CBSE affiliated schools were set afire, however the authorities are yet to iden-tify the attackers. The attacks are being made at a time when JK government is pressing for reopening of schools, which continue to remain shut for the past four months.
"It is unfortunate that schools are being attacked almost every day. Now the incidents are happening in broad daylight which poses a challenge for us to make schools functional," said Direc-tor School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat.
He said the department is making efforts to involve the Village Education Commit-tees (VECs) to safeguard the schools from such incidents.
"I took a meeting with CEOs and directed them to involve VECs who will play a role to prevent fire incidents. We have directed school heads to ensure duties of chowkidars in schools and our district officers will also make surprise visits to the institutions to monitor duties of chowkidars," Bhat said.
Police have directed its SHOs to take measures for preventing attacks on educa-tional institutions.
Burning of schools abhorrent, unacceptable: Omar
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar, Oct 30: National Confer-ence Working President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday expressed disappointment and grief over incidents of schools being burnt in various parts of the
Valley and said this was an abhorrent ploy to destroy the future of our children.
In a statement, Omar said the administration is respon-sible for protecting the education infrastructure in the State and it should take the sternest possible action against those elements that are found guilty of such incidents of arson. Omar Abdullah also said the Hurriyat leadership should realize the costs of its reluctance and delay to condemn such behavior unequivocally.
“Our schools hold the key to self-reliance, dignity and empowerment of our future generation. An assault on our schools is an assault on our children, their future and their dreams. These are clear, unambiguous attempts to rob our children of education and intellectual growth and there can be no doubt that these elements who attack our schools are the enemies of our children and the enemies of enlightenment”, Omar Abdullah said.
Bottomline
In 114 Days, Over 1600 Hit By Pellets In Face, 1100 Have Eye Injuries Hundreds in queue for vision corrective surgeries
1101HIT IN EYE
524HIT AROUND
EYE
51INJURED IN BOTH EYES
202USABLE VISION/VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
OF VARYING DEGREE
24EYE REMOVED/
LOST
300VITAL VISUAL AREAS DAMAGED
ABID BASHIR
Srinagar, Oct 30: Likening Kashmir movement with Palestinian Intifada, Chair-man Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muham-mad Yasin Malik, Sunday said that unity among pro-freedom leadership forged after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani will continue and there are no differences on basic issue. He said the ongoing upris-ing has once again attracted global attention towards Kashmir and New Delhi has been shaken by steadfast-ness and resolve of people.
Addressing media men here, Malik said, “Unfor-tunately some writers and columnists are trying to create confusion by writing that some constituent bodies of Hurriyat Conference (G)
and Hurriyat Conference (M) are not supporting the joint program. My suggestion to these columnists is to intro-spect and stop working at the behest of their masters. I want to tell the people of Kashmir that our unity will remain intact. This unity will take the Kashmir move-ment forward,” he said.
He said in the past 114 days of uprising, not a single leader has objected to the pro-grams issued jointly by the resistance leadership. “There can be differences of opinion on smaller issues. But the fact remains that we don’t have any difference on the basic issues,” the JKLF chief said.
Asked why Hurriyat Conference(G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Hur-riyat Conference(M) chair-man Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met the recent delegation
ABID BASHIR
Srinagar, Oct 30: JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik Sunday accused the CM Meh-booba Mufti and Education Minister Naeem Akther of being responsible for burning of schools in Kashmir stating that “government
has resorted to direct confrontation with stu-dents.” “In 1984, we too were students when G M Shah was the Chief Minister of J&K. Students from various colleges went to the then Divisional Commissioner and sought for change in the session as we had not com-
KHALID GUL
Anantnag, Oct 30: Unknown persons set ablaze a Government Higher Sec-ondary School in Anantnag district of South Kashmir while a Vidyalaya school was also damaged in a fire incident which police said was caused due to short cir-cuit on Sunday.
Reports said that Gov-ernment Higher Secondary School in Kabamarg-Diyal-gam of Anantnag was dam-aged in a blaze.
“Fire emerged mysteri-ously at around 4 p.m. and spread fast,” an official said.
Fire and emergency ser-vices rushed to the spot and doused the flames not before causing extensive damage to school building.
Confirming the fire
incident, Deputy Commis-sioner Anantnag Syed Abid Rasheed Shah said the school has been torched by some miscreants.
Earlier, a Vidyalaya school was damaged in a blaze in Aishmuqam area of Anantnag.
“The Principal’s chamber in Jawahar Navodaya Vidy-alaya (JNV) Aishmuqam caught fire in wee hours on Sunday. However, the intervention of school staff and locals prevented the chamber from any extensive damage,” an official said.
He said that fire tenders immediately rushed to the spot and the flames were doused immediately. “Only an almirah, computer and matting was damaged in the fire incident,” the offi-
Fire tenders trying to control fire in Government Higher Secondary School Kabamarg, District Anantnag. Mir Wasim/GK
Checking in Srinagar. Aman Farooq/GK
Am
an F
aroo
q/G
K
See We will stay...on Pg-10
See Another school...on Pg-10 See Mystery...on Pg-10 See Burning of schools...on Pg-10 See Mehbooba, Naeem...on Pg-10
Shutdown continues
across Kashmir4 youth detained in Ganderbal,
9 held in Samboora
DAY 114
ABID BASHIR
Srinagar, Oct 30: Shut-down was observed across Kashmir for the 114th consecutive day while as clashes against the noc-turnal raids and arrests were reported from vari-ous areas on Sunday.
Reports of schools being put on fire by unknown persons con-tinued to pour in as two more schools were gutted in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district taking the total number of edu-cational institutions set ablaze so far to 25.
Markets opened in Sri-nagar and elsewhere after 5 p.m. on the relaxation call given by the joint resistance leadership. The major markets that include Regal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street and Residency Road wit-nessed huge rush of cus-tomers while as Sunday market was abuzz with shoppers. Private vehicle movement also increased
on the roads after 5 p.m. Vendors had set up stalls from Zero Bridge to Amira Kadal. Shoppers could be seen purchasing winter clothes.
Meanwhile, reports said that heavy deploy-ment of forces was made in sensitive areas of Srinagar to prevent any protest.
Reports from Laway-pora area of Srinagar said that forces con-ducted nocturnal raids triggering fear in the area. The raids trig-gered protests on which forces fired dozens of tear gas shells. Accord-ing to witnesses, at least seven people includ-ing two elderly men were detained during the raids. Two elderly persons were identified as Ghulam Mohiudin Parray and Khursheed Ahmed Parray. Reports of clashes were reported from north Kashmir’s Bandipora area. A group of youth appeared in
See Shutdown...on Pg-10
LoC Situation
Uneasy calm in Machil, firing in KeranMore troops deployed as situation has escalated: Army
Massive search operation underway in Kupwara‘Militants hiding in dense forests’
SHABIR IBN YUSUF
Srinagar, Oct 30: The Special Operation Group (SOG) of JK Police and 47 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army have launched a massive joint search opera-tion in Kandi belt of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Sunday after a tip-off about the presence of presence of mili-tants in the area.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, Shamsh-er Hussain, said that there was exchange of fire. “While we were laying the cordon, the hiding mil-itants opened fire,” the SSP told Greater Kashmir. “The operation is underway and since then there has been no firing.”
Sources in security estab-lishment said that cordon was established in Kandi belt after information about the pres-ence of one militant.
Later, they said the more area was cordoned off. “Joint parties are searching the
area,” sources said. “Kandi belt is transit between Lolab and Bandipora, so a massive combing of forests is going on in the area,” sources said.
Less than a week ago (Octo-ber 24), police said it killed Lashker-e-Toiba Commander in Lolab area of Kupwara.
Sources further said that Army have launched mas-sive combing operations in the adjoining areas of Line of Control in Uri, Nowgam, Keran, Tangdhar, Gurez and Machil Sectors.
Army have claimed that in Nowgam Sector of Handwara, Pakistani Rangers have given cover to militants. “They opened fire three times on our posts and gave them cover for infiltration,” they claimed.
“The vigil in these sectors has been beefed up,” sources said, adding that these areas have emerged as favored infil-tration routes for militants over the past quite some time.
SHABIR IBN YUSUF
Srinagar, Oct 30: A day after the killing of a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and alleged muti-lation of an army soldier’s body, eerie calm prevailed in Machil sector on Line of Control while intermittent firing was reported from Keran sector of Kupwara dis-trict in north Kashmir on Sunday.
In both the sectors, there has been heavy cross border shell-ing since Friday that resulted in killing of a BSF personnel and an army soldier while as a woman was injured.
“There is clam in Machil sector since last evening,” a senior Army officer of 15 Corps told Greater
Kashmir Sunday evening. He said there was exchange of fire in Keran sector on Sunday. “Troops are vigilant and are retaliating to any firing from Pakistan side,” the Army officer added.
The officer informed that more Army columns have been deployed in most of the sectors of north Kashmir as, what he said, there has been escalation in cross-border shelling.
The people from both sides of
LoC had long borne the brunt of skirmishes and artillery duels until the rival Indian and Paki-stani troops reached a historic truce agreement in November 2003.
On Saturday evening, Army said that they had destroyed four Pakistan posts in the Keran sector along the LoC. “Heavy casualties were inflicted in the massive assault,” Army had said. Earlier in the day (Saturday), Army sepoy Mandeep Singh was killed and his body was mutilated in Machil sector of Kupwara district near LoC while
as a BSF trooper was also killed. Pertinently, for the first time in 13 years, Army on Saturday alleg-edly targeted civilian population in Neelum valley of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) injuring at least three persons – one of them a tourist.
Reports said that the upper belt of Neelum valley also reso-nated with the sound of gunfire on the night of October 27 but it was directed at each other’s army posts. However, on Saturday, the Indian army reportedly targeted a rest house along the icy Neelum River in famous Karen village, leaving a woman, a child and a tourist injured.
Pertinently, there has been an increase in ceasefire violations after India said it carried out surgi-cal strikes on militant launch pads along the LoC with Pakistan on September 29. The surgical strikes,
India said, were carried out after September 18 militant attack on Army installation in Uri that killed 19 soldiers. India had accused Pakistan of being involved in the strike, but Islam-abad has dismissed the allega-tions as baseless.
See In 114 Days...on Pg-10
CMYK
