Sheikh rouf hussain: On 10 April, Pakistan Army started firing in the areas from South of Athmuqam to Upper Neelam Valley with an idea to punish Indian Army troops deployed opposite these areas probably to punish them for killing the five militants who were trying to infiltrate through the line of control in Kupwara sector. The firing started with automatics and mortars. However, when Indian Army troops retaliated in the similar manner, the firing from Pakistan side was upscaled to artillery guns engaging even the local populace. It resulted into damage to few houses in villages such as tumba villages,chowkibal and Soon the news of locals under fire reached the local commanders of Army. As if they were looking for a chance to teach Pakistan a lesson, artillery guns from Indian side started delivering fire with such an intensity and accuracy that cries of Pakistani troops could be heard by the villagers from Nikial. A post made on twitter even mocked that why doesn’t Pakistan learn from the past.
News started pouring on social media about the gun position of Pakistqn Army getting fired upon. There was a drone that came up soon in air and started helping the artillery to fire with precision. The hell had let loose on the gun area of Pakistan Artillery that had started the game earlier. The gun area not only got silenced but the guns were also getting damaged. Splinters were falling at the places where soldiers were taking shelter to save themselves. Soon one could find videos of gun area under fire and details of injuries being posted on social media.
Next was the turn of terrorist launch pads under attack. It appeared as if Indian Army had complete intelligence about the specific location of launch pads and terrorist camps and was encashing the chance offered by Pakistan Army. Soon, there was a post on social media that a building where two groups ten militants each of Jaish were housed was under attack. Twenty militants were in a state of shock and many got injured. Perhaps there were many places that are used by militants were targeted and a lot of casualties were suffered by soldiers and militants.
As if this was not enough, ammunition dump located along line of control for supplying the ammunition to troops on line of control also hit by artillery rounds. Though there was no specific mention whether Bofors had also joined the band wagon, but the kind of intensity with which all this was happening, one can say that Bofors too was involved.
Normally, Pakistan or Pakistan Army shoes away from acknowledging the casualties but when the numbers are too large and it becomes difficult to hide, it gives out some ten to fifteen percentage of numbers. DG ISPR’s official twitter handle had this to say at 1100 hours on 11 April “Indian troops resorted to unprovoked Ceasefire Violations during last 24 hours using artillery and heavy mortars in Sharda, Dhudnial and Shahkot Sectors along LOC deliberately targeting Civilian population. Due to Indian Army’s indiscriminate fire of heavy weapons. …at Bessan Wali and Chhari villages, four innocent civilians including a 15 year old girl sustained serious injuries. Pakistan Army troops responded effectively with matching calibre targeted those Indian Army posts which initiated fire reddi ..In 2020, Indian Army committed 708 Ceasefire Violations so far, in which 2 citizens embraced shahadat while 42 sustained injuries”. Then, again post an after thought, DG ISPR made another tweet ” LOC Update: Indian Army resorted to unprovoked fire in Nikial Sector deliberately targeting civilian population. CFVs being responded befittingly by Pak Army troops. Due to indiscriminate fire of Indian artillery at Mohra village, chowkibal two civilians including 18 years old girl sustained serious injuries. In last 24 hours 6 citizens including 2 girls have been injured & evacuated to nearby health facilities for necessary medical care. Indian troops resorted to unprovoked Ceasefire Violations during last 24 hours using artillery and heavy mortars in Sharda, Dhudnial and Shahkot Sectors along LOC deliberately targeting Civilian population. Due to Indian Army’s discriminate fire of heavy weapons”. Point to note is 6 citizens werevinjured and not 6 civilians. This hints towards the fact that they were actually the soldiers and not the civilians.
PRO Srinagar was very categorical in terms of the targets that were engaged which indicated that amn dump, militant camps and gun area was targeted. In past also, it has been seen that Indian Army believes that people of Pak Occupied Indian territory belongs to India and the people are Indians.
Another moot point that needs emphasis is that Pakistan is the only country which under these conditions of COVID 19, which is carrying on with its acts of supporting militant infiltration and cease fire violation. Experts of Indian Army believe that Pakistan Army’s thinking that Indian troops deployed in J&K are stressed due to Corona, hence this is the right time to foment trouble in the UT, is far fetched and wrong, Indian Army is firstly capable of handling militancy while it supports civil administration in COVID fight. Moreover, with an efficient administration under an able LG, the UT administration may not require that kind of support to manage this disaster.
