Civilian killed, 7 including 5 kids injured as Pakistan breaches truce

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: A 50-year-old man was killed while seven other civilians — including five children aged between eight and 10 — were injured after Pakistan on Tuesday night violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Pakistan initiated unprovoked firing of heavy arms, automatics and shelled mortars targeting civilian areas along the LoC in Machil. Indian Army effectively retaliated to the attack, said an official.
“A civilian was killed in the firing and seven others including five children were injured,” said a senior police officer. The deceased was identified as Muhammad Yousuf Khan (50), a resident of Machil’s Thali-Dudi area, he added.
The injured children were identified as Uzair Ahmed Khan (8), Muneer Ahmed Khan (8), Aqib Khan (9), Tariq Ahmed Khan (9) and Nayeema Bano (10). All are hospitalised and under treatment, the officer said.
The killing triggered panic among Machil residents with many now planning to shift to safer areas in view of the present security situation.
On Wednesday afternoon, Pakistan made another breach of truce along the LoC in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district in Jammu. This is the second such violation in the district in the past three days.
“Around 3.15pm, Pakistan initiated unprovoked firing of small arms and mortar shelling along the LoC in Sunderbani sector, to which the Indian Army is retaliating befittingly. No injury has been reported so far,” Jammu defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said.
The fire exchange continued intermittently till the filing of this report.