October 23, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 16,1423

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MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 22: Indian troops shelled AJK villages from across the Line of Control on Monday and Tuesday, but no casualties were reported from anywhere, officials said here.

A police officer told Dawn that the Indian forces resorted to shelling with mortars and medium artillery began in Neelum valley, in northeast of Muzaffarabad, at 9am, targeting villages in both the belts.

At least five houses were damaged in the Tehsil headquarters Athmuqam, in the lower belt of the valley, in the unprovoked and indiscriminate shelling, he said.

“Though the shelling was severe, over the decade the residents of the border areas have learnt how to save themselves in such a situation. They take shelter as soon as the shelling begins which is why the casualties are sometimes negligible,” the officer said.

He pointed out that India’s announcement to partially withdraw troops from its border with Pakistan had not changed the (tense) situation along the LoC in Kashmir.

“There is no change in the situation on the ground (in Kashmir). They have not given up their practice of shelling our people without any provocation,” he said.

The officer said heavy Indian shelling also took place in Leepa valley, some 100kms southeast of here, on Monday evening.

Though fortunately the shelling did not cause any casualties there, it did cause damage to a powerhouse in the valley, and as a result power production and supply in the area was suspended, he said.

The Line of Control, it may be recalled, was calm since early Sept after months of artillery duels that picked up momentum in the wake of an attack on Indian parliament in December last year.

However, the lull broke on Sept 30, with the resumption of bombardment by Indian troops that killed three people in AJK’s Kotli district.