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Two civilians killed in skirmishes on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, October 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least two civilians including a woman were killed Friday in skirmishes between troops of India and Pakistan on Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Kashmir, officials said.

The two sides fired mortars and resorted to heavy firing in Mendhar sector of Poonch district and Akhnoor sector of Jammu district.

"Two civilians were killed after hit by shells fired by Pakistani troopers in Mendhar and Akhnoor," an official said. "In Mendhar a 50-year-old woman was hit in head by a mortar splinter and she succumbed at hospital. Likewise, another civilian was killed in Pallanwala - Akhnoor."

Meanwhile, heavy exchange of gunfire between the two sides was going on in Pallanwala sector, besides Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors of Rajouri district. Reports said intermittent exchange of fire was going on in Balakote and R S Pura sectors when reports last came in.

Officials in wake of increased shelling have evacuated villages and hamlets close to the border.

The past several weeks have seen a surge in skirmishes on LoC and IB between the two countries.

Both New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. And both sides maintain that their troops gave befitting reply.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on 720 km-long LoC and 198 km IB in Kashmir, despite an agreement in 2003 to observe a cease-fire. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire however remains in effect. Endit