India, Pakistan skirmishes on Kashmir frontier kill 8 civilians

At least eight civilians were killed and 22 others wounded Tuesday in deadly 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 Samba and R S Pora sectors along the IB, and Manjakote and Nowshera sectors on the LoC in Rajouri district.

"Six civilian casualties have taken place in Ramgarh area while two women were killed in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district," an official said. "Besides this 22 people are reported to be wounded in the shelling. Exact details are yet to be known as reports of human loss can be complied only after the firing comes to halt."

The slain included four women and two children.

According to officials heavy exchange of gunfire was going on between Indian border guards belonging to Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistani Rangers. Indian Defense officials said they were adequately retaliating to the firing from Pakistan.

The past several weeks have seen a surge in skirmishes on IB and LoC between the two countries. Apart from troop casualties, the firing has claimed civilian lives on both sides, besides prompting migrations of residents from frontier areas. Officials have ordered closure of 174 schools in these areas in wake of shelling.

On Monday a trooper and an elderly woman were killed in the similar exchange of fire in Rajouri and Poonch.

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.

Reports said more than 60 cease-fire violations were recorded in the past several weeks. Endit