MUZAFFARABAD: Seven more civilians, including three women, were injured in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday in unremitting ceasefire violations by Indian troops from across the Line of Control, official sources said.

The ceasefire violations took place in Batot, Lanjot, Balakot and Dheri Dabsi villages of Nakial sector in southern Kotli district, deputy commissioner Masoodur Rehman told Dawn by telephone after visiting the affected areas along with a senior military official.

He said two of the injured were hospitalised in Nakial and Kotli. The others were sent home after first aid.

Six of them were identified as Javed, son of Shah Mohammad, Mushtaq, son of Kalu Khan, Razzaq, son of Mukhtar, Fakhira, daughter of Yousuf Mughal, Sakina, wife of Khalil Malik and Kiran, daughter of Javed.

The deputy commissioner said four houses and two vehicles were badly damaged in the shelling.

“The morale of the residents in affected areas is high. There has been no displacement in any area,” he said.

Police sources told Dawn that Indian troops used mortars during the shelling, which began at 4am and continued intermittently till early afternoon.

Pakistani troops had “properly responded”, they said.

DOCTORS’ LEAVES CANCELLED: The AJK’s Director General of Health, Dr Abdul Quddus Akhtar, has imposed an emergency in all health facilities in view of the escalation along the LoC.

He told Dawn that he had cancelled vacations of all doctors and paramedics so as to keep them prepared to meet any eventuality.

Reuters adds: Six civilians were injured in Azad Kashmir and three villagers were injured on the Indian-held side in Thursday’s shelling.

“There was no exchange of sweets at Aman Setu (Peace Bridge) today,” said Indian army officer Brigadier R.K. Singh, referring to a custom the soldiers from the two sides have observed on independence days of the two countries since a road between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad was reopened in 2005.