Keran, Jammu and Kashmir

Keran
town
Keran Show map of Jammu and Kashmir Keran Show map of India Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Coordinates: 34°39′02″N 73°57′03″E / 34.6505°N 73.9507°E / 34.6505; 73.9507Coordinates: 34°39′02″N 73°57′03″E / 34.6505°N 73.9507°E / 34.6505; 73.9507
Country	India
State	Jammu and Kashmir
District	Kupwara
Block	Keran
Languages
• Official	Urdu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:00)
PIN	193224
Vehicle registration	JK

Keren is a village located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located in the Neelum Valley on the bank of the Neelum (Kishanganga) river. The village lies on the Indo-Pakistan border. The Keran block includes three villages: Keran, Mundiyan and Pathran.^[1]

The adjacent habitation on the Pakistani side is also called Keran. The Neelum river flowing through village acts as the natural border between the two habitations. While both sides have the same predominant religion, social and cultural practices differ greatly. The people are not allowed by Indian and Pakistani officials to intermingle. Karen village is surrounded by dense forests.Shalabhatu, a village in Keran sector is divided between Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Kashmir.^[2][3] It was one of the famous infiltration routes in early 1990s.The village has three border posts — Khokhri, Kulari and Mangerta

History

The village is said to have been established by Raja Bhaudar Khan in the tenth century.^[4] In 1990, the Indian army relocated the villagers due to frequent firing and shelling by Pakistanis in Jammu and Kashmir. In 1992, a flood swept over the cultivated land and houses. In 2013, armed terrorists infiltrated the village, but were killed by the Indian Army during a 15-day operation.^[5]

References