MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 9: A local worker of a UK-based charity was killed and another person was critically wounded in unprovoked Indian shelling in Neelum valley of Azad Kashmir late on Wednesday, the police and charity officials said on Thursday.

Zulfikar Ali, 40, son of Yameen, social organizer of the non- profitable organization — Islamic Relief — died when the rented jeep (AJKD-1439), he was travelling in with two other aid workers, was hit by the Indian troops, near the village of Lala, some 88 kilometres northeast of here, at about 9pm on Wednesday, police said.

The driver of the vehicle, Ejaz Malik, 35, son of Shiraz Malik, (resident of valley’s Bore Bala village) was critically injured, and later admitted to a local military hospital. However, the two other aid workers — female social organizer Shabana Kosar (resident of Abbottabad) and support staff Sajawal Khan (resident of Mansehra) — miraculously escaped unhurt.

Qasim Janjua, Islamic Relief’s Liaison and Admin Officer in Muzaffarabad, told Dawn that Zulfikar, a resident of valley’s Kuttan village, was associated with the organization as an energetic and dedicated worker for the past 18 months.

He said that Islamic Relief was carrying out development and relief activities in the firing-stricken Neelum valley under its Neelum Valley Integrated Development Programme since 1998.