Over 1,000 displaced in shelling near LoC

Rajouri targeted for second day.

Indian army soldiers take positions near the LoC in Rajouri.

Over 1,000 civilians were displaced due to Pakistani shelling in the Pir Panchal Valley’s Rajouri district, as fresh shelling continued for the second day on Sunday morning.

Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said fresh ceasefire violations were reported at Manjakote and Chingus areas at 6.20 a.m.

Army retaliates

There was retaliation by the Army “in an equal measure,” said officials.

“More than 30 shells fell near habitations at Chhotibakri village in Doongi area. However, no loss of life or injury was reported. Four cattle heads perished in the shelling,” said Dr. Choudhary.

Meanwhile, two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed in the frontier district of Kupwara in the Valley.

He said more than 40 shells landed in various areas of Manjakote, damaging three houses. “In Manjakote tehsil’s Niaka-Panjgrain village, three to four shells dropped near the populated area,” he added.

The Rajouri district administration has shifted 1,114 persons of 298 families in five different relief camps in the past 24 hours in Nowshera due to cross-LoC shelling, which continued in the past three days and left three civilians dead and six other injured. Five Army personnel were also injured on Saturday.

LeT militants killed

Two LeT militants were killed in a brief encounter in Warpora area of Handwara in frontier district of Kupwara. Acting on specific information, the security forces, including Army’s 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), zeroed in on militants in Warpora area of Handwara.