Author: Excelsior Correspondent
Publication: The Daily Excelsior
Date: February 1, 2002
*People take shelter in bunkers
amidst panic
*Skirmishes again on IB, 2 enemy
soldiers killed
POONCH, Jan 31: For the first time
during over a month long border skirmishes, the Pakistan army this evening
targeted Poonch town by firing airburst, artillery and mortar shells. About
half a dozen bunkers were damaged on the Indian side while two army jawans
were killed and four others were seriously injured and some casualties
were also feared. Till tonight, four army soldiers had been hospitalised
in the critical condition.
Over 6000 artillery, airburst and
mortar shells were fired by the enemy troops targeting the civilian locations
in the town and peripheries besides the strategic installations for about
two and a half hours. People took shelter in the bunkers, already erected
by them, while the shopkeepers downed their shutters and fled to the safer
areas.
Official and Defence sources said
the Pakistani guns started barking in the entire Poonch sector at 1630
hours. For the first time, five artillery shells fell in Azad Mohalla in
Ward No. 9 of Poonch while seven shells fell near Moti Mahal Brigade of
army in Malti area. Four shells landed in Daria Mohalla, and eight shells
in Alla Peer.
All shells exploded with big bangs
but narrowly missed the Defence and civilian locations. Deafening sound
of the explosions rattled houses of the people, who were forced to take
shelter in the bunkers. During over a month long skirmishes on the Line
of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector, the shells hadn't landed in the town
even on a single occasion.
Panic-stricken people, who had initially
went on roof tops to see the shelling, rushed to the bunkers as the shells
started landing in the town and its outskirts.
However, no civilian casualties
were reported in the shelling. Boundary walls in some of the houses developed
cracks under impact of the explosions, the sources said.
The forward villages in Poonch sector,
which were targeted by Pakistan army, were Digwar, Sokar, Ajot, Tasalian,
Banwat, Dokri, Jhalas, Kunian, Mangnar, and Ksaba. About half a dozen bunkers
were so far reported to be damaged in the shelling. Two army jawans were
killed and four others were injured. The injured army jawans had been admitted
to a Military Hospital in serious condition, the sources said.
Number of casualties and damage
could be more, the reliable reports said, adding the exact damage was being
ascertained. Defence sources didn't disclose immediately the extent of
damage. The shelling stopped around 1900 hours.
The shelling was not replied immediately
by the Indian side.
On Monday, the Indian army had retaliated
the Pakistani shelling killing 26 enemy soldiers, smashing 22 bunkers and
posts and completely destroying their one ammunition depot and two anti-aircraft
guns opposite Poonch sector.
Sources said the Indian troops were
expected to retaliate the shelling tomorrow or a day after.
Panic prevailed in Poonch town with
a virtual war like situation during about two and a half hour shelling.
People came out of the bunkers by 2000 hours-an hour after the shelling
had completely stopped.
According to sources, more than
6000 air burst, mortar and artillery shells were fired by Pakistan army.
Air burst shells were fired for the first time.
Heavy mortar shelling was also reported
from Kallal and Lam villages in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in
the wee hours of this morning. About 60 to 80 mortar shells were fired
in the forward villages but there was no report of any casualties or damage,
the sources said.
Shelling was immediately replied
by the Indian side. Shelling in Nowshera sector has also become a routine
like Poonch sector.
Border skirmishes also resumed in
Samba sector of the International Border (IB) this morning. An attempt
by Pakistan army to storm Majra post of the Border Security Force (BSF)
in Samba sector was beaten-back by the security personnel resulting into
the death of two Pakistan army soldiers.
Other forward villages on the IB
where Indo-Pak troops traded firing included Garkhal, Siderwan, Old and
New Kanachak, Chinore Farm, Gole Pattan, Pargwal, Lalyal, Panjur, Chor
Gali, Pallanwalla, Pindi, Pital Post, Mehta Post, Kote Kuba, SH Way, Jabowal,
Budhwar, Kandral, SM Pur, Fatwal, Suchetgarh, Kullian, Galar, Faqira Chak,
Sangral, Mangral, Abdullian, Korotana, Khatmarian, Khurd, Joura Farm, Gharana
and AMK in Jammu district.
The forward villages of Kathua district,
which witnessed the exchange of firing this morning, were Regal, Manju
Chak, Sade Chak, Chachwal and Challarian.
