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As war clouds loom large, Indo-Pak armies exchange fire

Last Updated 27 February 2019, 02:11 IST

As war clouds loom large, the armies of India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, triggering panic among the residents.

Reports said intense shelling was going on in Balakote and Krishna Ghati sectors of Poonch district. Eyewitnesses told DH over the phone that dozens of mortar shells fired from across the LoC landed in Balakote.

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“Sound of heavy shelling was heard in more than five kilometres area along the LoC sending a wave of fear and panic among the villagers,” they said. “The terrified villagers rushed towards their houses and took shelter in safer areas including bunkers.”

“There is panic situation is in our village as nobody knows what is going to happen. It is very difficult to live here. We just want security,” a resident from border area of Poonch told Deccan Herald over phone.

“The horror of the war is an image that sends shivers down our spines,” he said and added some people have already left for safer places and some were preparing to take shelter in underground bunkers.

Reports of intense shelling were also received from Baba Khori, Kalal, Pokhra areas of Nowshera sector, and Tarkundi area of Rajouri district.

The fresh exchange of fire and shelling comes amid heightened tension over a pre-dawn strike by the Indian Air Force across the LoC in Balakot.

The Indian and Pakistani armies had agreed on a ceasefire along the LoC, the international border (IB) and along Actual Ground Position Line at Siachen glacier in November 2003. Although it held good for 10-years, in the last few years, Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire agreement hundreds of times.

India shares a 3,323-km-long border with Pakistan of which 221 km of the IB and 740 km of the LoC fall in Jammu and Kashmir.

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(Published 26 February 2019, 07:38 IST)

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