While administration has started relief measures for the affected families, tension and fear continues to grip residents of several frontier villages in Kupwara, ady after three residents were killed in cross LoC shelling. Locals said people of different villages including Chowkibak, Reddi, Tumina and other areas have shut themselves inside their homes amid the fear. Several houses were damaged when shells from across the LoC landed in Reddi Chowkibal and Tumna villages, an official said. It was the first time when shells fired from across the LoC landed deep inside Kupwara villages. The shelling has been reported from Panzgam, Malikpora, TCP, Hafrada and Ferkiyan areas and it has created panic among the residents. In Panzam, many people left their homes and moved towards safer locations while others have restricted themselves to safer locations within their homes. The shelling, which continued for two hours on Monday, has left villagers scared as they had to run for the cover. “We are thinking to shift to safer places as we fear escalation in coming days,” said Abdul Rehman Bajad of Tumina. “This is for the first time in my 43 year of age when shells landed in our village.”He said India and Pakistan must make efforts to stop the ensure peace. “We want to live in peace,” he said, adding many residents were not certain that their homes were intact.Some residents said they were still frightened. “It was so frightening that some people even came out of their homes and started calling relatives to get a clue about what happened,” said Mukhta Khatana of Marari village.Abdul Kareem Dar of Sonthipora said the shelling was so intense that they feared for their lives. “The houses were shaken amid the blast,” he said.“There is calm as of now,” said Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Anshul Garg. “We have started relief operations.”Garg said the assessment of the losses suffered by people was underway. “The affected families will be provided ex-gratia,” he said.
