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Kashmir: Civilians flee homes as India-Pakistan border firing continues Kashmir: Civilians flee as border clashes continue
(about 9 hours later)
Hundreds of villagers have fled their homes in Indian-administered Kashmir as Indian and Pakistani troops continued to exchange fire in the region. Hundreds of villagers are fleeing their homes in Indian-administered Kashmir as Indian and Pakistani troops continue to exchange fire in some of the worst violence in the region in a decade.
India said one civilian had been killed and 14 injured in fresh firing by Pakistani troops. Pakistan has not yet responded to the latest allegation. At least 16 people have been killed since violence began last Friday - nine of them Pakistani and seven Indian.
Ten civilians have been killed so far in firing since last week. Both sides have accused each other of starting the hostilities.
A ceasefire agreed in 2003 remains in place, but the neighbours often accuse each other of violating it.A ceasefire agreed in 2003 remains in place, but the neighbours often accuse each other of violating it.
In August India cancelled talks with Pakistan after accusing it of interfering in its internal affairs. The latest round of hostilities come just months after India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to his inauguration.
Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first speech at the UN, said he wanted peace talks with Pakistan but insisted it must create an "appropriate atmosphere". But relations have deteriorated since then.
A woman has been killed and 14 others, including three soldiers, have been injured in overnight firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops, Dharminder Parikh, a spokesperson for India's Border Security Force (BSF) told BBC Hindi. In August, India cancelled talks with Pakistan after accusing it of interfering in its internal affairs.
"The weather in the area is bad, and it is not very clear if the shelling has stopped," he said. And last month, Mr Modi, in his first speech at the UN, said he wanted peace talks with Pakistan but insisted it must create an "appropriate atmosphere".
'Voluntary' At the scene: Sanjoy Majumder on the disputed border
Some 1,500 people have fled their homes along the disputed border to shelters to escape the firing, officials said. The village of Mahashay Kothe in Arnia resembles a ghost town.
"It's a voluntary thing. Otherwise the entire border population is vulnerable," Shantmanu, a top official in Indian-administered Kashmir, told the AFP news agency. The narrow mud lanes are empty, the houses abandoned. Only some cattle and a couple of dogs remain.
The roof of one of the houses has shattered under the impact of a mortar shell. The yellow walls are pockmarked with shrapnel.
Four members of a family were killed here. They were sleeping out in the open when the village came under fire.
"One person died instantly," one of the neighbours tell me. "I could hear a woman crying out for help. But by the time it arrived, she too had died."
The village is right on the border - Pakistan just a kilometre away and visible from this side.
On Wednesday, Indian officials said at least two people, including a woman, had been killed and 20 others - including three soldiers - injured by gunfire and mortar bombs from the Pakistani side.
Some 1,500 people had fled their homes along the disputed border to shelters, they added.
"It's a voluntary thing. Otherwise the entire border population is vulnerable," Shantmanu, a senior official in Indian-administered Kashmir, told AFP news agency.
Reports said many had taken shelter in schools, while some had moved into army bunkers.
A villager in the affected Arnia area in Jammu said she had no idea when she would be able to leave the shelter.A villager in the affected Arnia area in Jammu said she had no idea when she would be able to leave the shelter.
"Is there no end to it? When will we return to our homes? Our cattle, our only source of income, will die unattended," Rano Devi told Hindustan Times newspaper. "Is there no end to it? When will we return to our homes? Our cattle, our only source of income, will die unattended," Rano Devi told the Hindustan Times newspaper.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India would "not tolerate such acts of border violations by Pakistan" and that "ceasefire violations must stop".Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India would "not tolerate such acts of border violations by Pakistan" and that "ceasefire violations must stop".
This is being seen as one of the worst flare-ups since the 2003 ceasefire deal between the neighbours. Pakistani officials said at least three people were killed and four others were injured in Sialkot when they were hit by shells fired by Indian forces late on Tuesday.
AFP quoted a reporter in the area as saying that intermittent firing was continuing and many residents had fled their homes.
Kashmir, claimed by both countries in its entirety, has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years and the South Asian rivals have fought two wars and a limited conflict over the region.Kashmir, claimed by both countries in its entirety, has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years and the South Asian rivals have fought two wars and a limited conflict over the region.
On Monday, Delhi said five of its civilians died in firing from Pakistan, while Islamabad said four of its civilians died in firing from the Indian side.
Pakistan accused India of starting the latest round of hostilities and Pakistan's foreign ministry said it had lodged a protest with Indian diplomats over the killings of its civilians.