Gurez (Kashmir): Residents of Gurez sector close to the line of control (LoC) in North Kashmir, living under the constant threat of shelling by Pakistani troops, are determined to slug it out with Pakistani troops alongside the Indian Army.

Despite being fed up with the series of shelling from across the border on their villages, the residents say that they will not migrate to other parts of the state.

"We will fight the Pakistanis alongside the Army till the last drop of blood. They (Pakistanis) want us to leave this place, we will not let them succeed in that," says Ghulam Hassan.

The villagers have sent their children to safer areas within Gurez valley so that they can attend schools, which had become impossible in view of continuous shelling by Pakistani troops, Hassan told a group of visiting reporters on July 4.

The sarpanch of the area, Ghulam Rasool, praised the Army's efforts to provide them succour in view of heightened threat on their life and said, "We will not leave them in the face of adversity. We will fight alongside them."

He said that performing daily chores has become "hazardous as the shells fall continuously at all times of day. I think they just take a few breaks and get back to usual business".

PTI