Pakistani army on Friday resorted to intense shelling in Keran sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district and targeted forward posts, a police official said.
The official said some shells landed in civilian areas,resulting in panic and chaos among local population, the official said.
The official said Pakistani army shelled Furqian area ofKarnah this afternoon. He said the unprovoked shelling forced army to retaliateand exchange of shelling continued till late evening.
“There is no report of any casualty, injury or damage tocivilian property. The exchange of shelling has stopped as of now,” said SeniorSuperintendent of Police, Kupwara, Shariram Amberkar,
Locals said exchange of shelling between the two sidesacross the Line of Control created panic in the area. “As lockdown is in place,the exchange of shelling between the troops of both sides further added to ourproblems,” said Ashiq Hussain, a resident of Furkiyan, over phone.
Meanwhile, the 2G internet service in Kupwara districtremained suspended for some time. However the facility was resumed later.
Earlier, a week ago, the area witnessed a major gun-battlebetween militants and soldiers in which five militants, besides five soldierswere killed.
Meanwhile, army spokesperson Rajesh Kalia said Pakistaniarmy resorted to unprovoked shelling in Keran sector. “However, our troopsresponded the aggression effectively and strongly,” he said. “In response tothe ceasefire violation, Indian army targeted the militant launch pads besidesammunition dumps on the other side of fence. The damage to the Pakistani sidewas heavy,” he said.