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Heavy shelling in Gurez sector

Over 200 families have migrated from various villages along the Line of Control in Gurez sector following intense Pakistani shelling in the past four days.

Over a dozen houses have been damaged in the shelling. A senior police officer here told this paper that the affected families have taken shelter at Bandipore, a north Kashmir town.

Pakistani troops shelled Davar, Markote, Wanpora, Fakirpora, Khaferhajan, Kanzalwan and Bagtoor in Gurez sector. The residents left their villages with whatever little they could carry. However, state government sources said efforts were afoot to provide them relief and accommodate them in government buildings.

The large-scale migration from border villages, meanwhile, is putting a severe strain on the government exchequer. Nearly 15,000 have left their houses in Kargil, Drass and other areas following the intense fighting between Indian and Pakistani forces.

In Jammu, the government is yet to provide any relief to those who have arrived there from border villages. But government officials claimed that despite the cash crunch, those who have fled their homes will be provided relief.

Army, according to sources, here has rushed reinforcements to Gurez and the troops have been responding to the Pak shelling.

Defence sources said aerial strikes were now being carried out in selected areas. Sources said the aerial strikes have been of great help in silencing the intruders and have helped in pushing them back in some areas.

However, they admitted that in other areas, the aerial strikes have not been effective as the terrain is very tough. The artillery units are presently engaged in targeting the bunkers of the intruders and providing cover to the ground troops.

At least, 14 soldiers were wounded in a landmine blast followed by heavy firing from automatics at Dangiwachi in Baramulla district late yesterday.

The seriously wounded soldiers were later airlifted to the Srinagar Army Hospital for treatment. The area was cordoned off and searches were mounted.

The Kargil Crisis

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