Spotlight: Residents on Kashmir LoC flee to safer places in wake of skirmishes

As troops of India and Pakistan resort to heavy firing and mortar shelling on Line of Control (LoC) which divides Kashmir.

Hundreds of families residing along frontier areas were affected and have fled their homes, officials said Monday.

The migrations are going on in Noushera sector of frontier Rajouri district, about 220 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

While some people have gone to live with relatives, the majority of the residents have taken shelter in government buildings (mainly schools) earmarked by authorities as temporary accommodation for affected residents.

"More than 2694 families comprised of 10,042 persons have been affected in shelling killing two and wounding six others. The shelling has also perished livestock and damaged standing crops besides damaging 45 houses," a government spokesman said. "Out of 64 villages along LoC in Rajouri 23 are located in Noushera sub-division, where eight villages are badly affected and remaining 15 villages suffered partial damages."

Local authorities have set up relief camps and more than 25 buildings have been earmarked to meet the eventuality.

According to local government officials, eight villages of Nowshera have been badly affected by heavy shelling.

"The badly affected villages include Khamba, Sarya, Bhawani, Kalsian, Manpur, Danaka, Khori and Ganya," Atul Kumar, a senior police official, told Xinhua. "The situation is tense in wake of the latest round of cease-fire violations."

At least 51 schools in Noushera sector have been closed for an indefinite period while 36 in Manjakote and Doongi zones have been closed for three days.

The situation along LoC worsened since the beginning of this month after Indian army said Pakistani troopers crossed the LoC and carried out beheadings of two Indian troopers. Pakistan army rejected the Indian claim and sought evidence about their involvement. Indian army however warned it of strong retaliation.

Pakistan too has been accusing Indian troops of resorting to cease-fire violations. Last week Pakistan foreign ministry summoned Indian deputy high commissioner, J. P. Singh in Islamabad to register their protest against the unprovoked firing on LoC.

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

The troops on both sides target each other's posts and frontier localities, endangering lives of the residents.

Residents said the artillery fired by Pakistani troops has damaged their houses and some unexploded shells are scattered in the civilian areas.

"It is hell over here. These shells will kill us," Sher Bibi, a victim told over telephone from Government Higher Secondary School Boys, Nowshera.

Cease-fire violations have been extended to International Border (IB) in Jammu as well, officials said.

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 cease-fire. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire however remains in effect.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. The LoC on both sides is guarded by army, while IB is guarded by Border Security Force on Indian side and Pakistan Rangers and on the other side. Endit