ASEM MOHIUDDIN
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: At least three civilians were killed after Pakistani Rangers opened fire on Indian army pickets in Uri sector of Baramulla district on Tuesday morning.
According to the residents of Churunda village of this forward area, the three civilians were killed after a mortar shell fired by the Pakistani troops landed in the village and exploded.
It was around 6 am in the morning when a shell from Pakistani side landed in the village. Three people who were outside their houses received serious injuries and died later, said the villager Shahabudin.
Shahabudin said that following the mortar shell, there was heavy exchange of fire from both sides due to which the entire area was gripped in panic.
The persons who were killed including a woman have been identified as Mohammad Shafi (35) son of Imamudin Khatana, Liaqat Ali son of Nazir Ahmad, a student of 9th standard and Shaheena Bano (20).
Abdul Hamid son of Shahabudin also sustained a minor injury in the shelling after being hit by the stone.
Meanwhile, the army spokesman here said that three innocent civilians lost their lives due to unprovoked firing by Pakistan in Churunda Village of Uri Sector, very close to the Line of Control.
Pakistani troops deployed across the LoC opposite Uri sector started firing heavy caliber weapons on the houses of civilians of Churunda Village resulting in the death of three civilians. Keeping the probable danger to the lives of other civilians of the nearby villages in view, Indian Army chose not to escalate the situation by retaliating, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that Pakistani troops opposite Uri Sector have been carrying out unprovoked firing since October 3.
However, following the cease fire agreement, Indian troops have been exercising maximum restraint. Both sides of the LoC civilians are residing in the close proximity and any firing by troops affects the local population. Keeping the safety of the civil population, we dont retaliate as the same would have escalated the situation resulting into more casualties to the innocent, the spokesman added.
