Shelling wreaks havoc in Kupwara border areas

Kupwara, May 9: For the fourth consecutive day relentless cross border shelling has caused significant damage to residential areas in different areas of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The indiscriminate firing targeted civilian settlements, leaving over two dozen houses damaged in Karnah, Kralpora, Chowkibal, Keran, and Trehgam.

The shelling which started at 11 pm on Thursday night, continued up to the wee hours in the morning causing widespread fear and anxiety among residents, who are struggling to cope with the trauma of repeated attacks. According to locals of Karnah, shelling damaged several houses in Hajinar, Baghbella, Tanghdar, Chanipora and Maqam leaving families homeless. They said that three houses were fully damaged in Hajinar while others were partially damaged.

“With the community bunkers overcrowded, I along with my family decided to stay in our home but after the intensity of the shelling increased we hurriedly went back to the bunker. Hardly ten minutes had passed, a mortar shell hit our home, razing it to the ground,” said the owner of the house.

Twelve houses were damaged in Sonthipora, Kralpora, with a few completely destroyed and the rest partially affected. Several structures were also damaged in Dolipora, Trehgam, while a house was reported damaged in Patroo village of Keran.

“I had constructed this house after spending all my wealth earned for the last three decades. Earlier we were residing in Rangwar area of Chowkibal and following shelling by Pakistani Army in 2005, we decided to migrate from that place and settled here. We hardly knew that fate would render us homeless again,” said the head of the affected family whose house was damaged in Sonthipora, Kralpora.

The situation remains volatile, with concerns growing over the safety and security of civilians living along the border areas. Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan along with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara Ghulam Jeelani Wani and other officers visited Sonthipora, Kralpora to take stock of the damaged structures caused by Pakistani shelling. On Friday evening, Pakistan Army again resorted to indiscriminate shelling in the Karnah sector causing extensive panic among locals.