80-year-old killed in LoC crossfire

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

MUZAFFARABAD: An elderly man died after he was caught in crossfire between Indian and Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, on Tuesday.

Mohammad Din, 80, was herding goats near the Pakistan Army posts in Chirikot sector of Haveli district, when he was hit by the shrapnel of a shell fired by the Indian troops from across the dividing line, a senior official of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government, Abdul Hameed Mughal, told Dawn.

The last civilian casualties in the AJK due to Indian shelling were reported on October 14, when four children were wounded in Nakyal sector of Kotli district.

Ever since, the LoC remained generally calm, according to officials.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2014

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Tariq Naqash is a Muzaffarabad-based senior staff correspondent for Dawn with nearly three decades of experience in reporting, analysis, and feature writing. His work focuses on politics, conflict, and governance. He can be found on X at @tariqnaqash.

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Lucky Star

Oct 29, 2014 09:25am

Shame on Indian forces for killing an 80 year old!

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Bharat

Oct 29, 2014 09:27am

My sincere message to Rawalpindi GHQ (Read : Pak army) and ISI would be to stop inciting the indian soldiers into retaliation. The petty firing will NOT internationalize the Kashmir issue ..instead innocents on both sides will continue to die. The time has come to be more logical on both sides.Redrawing borders on maps won't get you the other half. I know there will be a hundred voices against this, but we Indians won't be able to get POK nor would Pakistan be able to get Indian Kashmir. So let this be a status quo. Convert the LOC and IB to a permanent border and give violence a break. Sabre rattling from both sides and N threats are immature.Jai hind!

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Jatin

Oct 29, 2014 09:34am

Why pakistan is provoking India..

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Kamal

Oct 29, 2014 09:35am

Give them a befitting reply so that they never dare to eye again. Modi in power is not a good omen for south east Asia.Slowly this region is inching towards flash point whether its China, Pakistan, Srilanka or Bangladesh.Modi in power means Indian Muslim and other minorities will have more hard time.

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Ash

Oct 29, 2014 09:39am

Sad really.

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PakPower

Oct 29, 2014 09:44am

These skirmishes aren't hurting anybody but the people of the two countries. This senselessness has to stop.

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indian

Oct 29, 2014 09:47am

Very sad pak should stop cease fire violations

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vinay

Oct 29, 2014 09:51am

I don't know why old , women and children are killed in Indian shelling ?

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Ash

Oct 29, 2014 09:52am

Haven't you lost family member whom you loved dearly? STOP killing humans. It does not matter on which side of the border people live. Can't both forces sit together and sort it out over table?

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NANDU

Oct 29, 2014 09:59am

Convert LOC in to an international border, then there will be no firing..

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Manoj

Oct 29, 2014 10:00am

for sure he is shot by Pakistan force ...just to blame India ...this is well known dirty startagy Pakistan follows....

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Truth wil win finally(wait and see)

Oct 29, 2014 10:00am

@Lucky Star :Shame on Pakistani troops for killing girls and 8 year old kids.....

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Sachin

Oct 29, 2014 10:01am

@Kamal Look at Balochis, Ahmediyas Christians and Hindus in Pak? How are they? Also look at Polio in your country... wretched disease - main reason- is dirty surroundings.. Care about that?

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Jai Hind

Oct 29, 2014 10:02am

@Kamal .....please spare a thought about minority attrocities in Pakistan first, then worry about Indian Muslims

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Truth wil win finally(wait and see)

Oct 29, 2014 10:03am

Of course.......... he died by the fires from Pakistan only.......

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Jai Hind

Oct 29, 2014 10:03am

Why is the 80-year old still working. He should be retired and getting a pension from Pak Government (if they can afford pensions) !!!!!!!!!!!

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Sohail

Oct 29, 2014 10:20am

@Bharat Why not just demilitarize the Kashmir and let Kashmiris live peacefully. It seems more acceptable option.

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Adventurer

Oct 29, 2014 10:28am

@Bharat Yes you are right

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rehan

Oct 29, 2014 10:30am

@Bharat India is committing severe human rights violations to their minority muslims in Kashmir. All the forums for human rights have raised their voice. Just think as human how the young generation in the Kashmir living under sever stress of occupation. This occupation is 100 times worst than the British rule of India. IA soon time will come when the justice will be served.

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Adventurer

Oct 29, 2014 10:33am

@Kamal Indian muslims are Indians and don't need your help nor want to go to Pakistan - see inhouse whether it is safe to live in pakistan and why are muslims fighting amongst themselves and the daily killings and bombings. Make Paksitan a safe and good place to live

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kalman

Oct 29, 2014 10:34am

Why was this 80 years old man with goats near the check posts near the LOC? What were Pak border police doing? Is not there responsibility to see that there are no civilian within Pakistan areas of LOC. Or did he died because of some detonated bombs in the area near the check post. Some thing is fishy here.

Recommend 0

aamed

Oct 29, 2014 10:38am

@NANDU LOC cant become the border as that would legitimize Indias illegal occupation. Best solution is for India to leave Kashmir once and for all.

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Sid

Oct 29, 2014 10:38am

Strange. Indian army moved it's citizens away from the border to keep them safe from shelling and cross border firing. Why did the Pakistani army not do the same. Do they care less about it's citizens ? Or they deliberately let them die to make news to demonize India and gather sympathy from it's gullible citizen ? This is indeed a question to be answered as what was the poor chap doing so close to the hot border ? And why did Pakistan army or state institution did not think of the safety of it's citizen by shifting them to safe distance away from the live border ?

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Sreenath

Oct 29, 2014 10:39am

@Lucky Star Bullets don't see your age friend, feel shame of the provocation behind the firing ...

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Sreenath

Oct 29, 2014 10:40am

@Kamal I don't know why so obsession for Mr Modi, were the relations so good between India and Pakistan before Mr Modi become PM?

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aamed

Oct 29, 2014 10:40am

@Sachin I know Ahmadis in Pakistan who hate India. Despite their troubles, Ahmadis are still patriotic. Go cry for the thousands killed.by your hindu fanatics. Keep your rabid soldiers and deranged fanatics to yourself thank you.

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aamed

Oct 29, 2014 10:43am

@Sohail Indians cant demilitarize Kashmir because those 100 thousand plus soldiers are all they have to keep Kashmir. Given the opportunity Kashmir I people would declare freedom from India...

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Haider Rehman

Oct 29, 2014 10:46am

India doesnt consider Kashmiris as her own people, they are Pakistanis. Let both armies retract and a UN referendum take place as to let Kashmiris have their right of self determination. I don't know why any sane person would not find my proposal appealing. Btw I'm Kashmiri (and Pakistani).

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Sreenath

Oct 29, 2014 10:46am

@Kamal Dear brother you are welcome to India, come, stay here for 6 months to 1 year in any of your relatives house I bet you'll feel it more safe and homely than Pakistan. Indian is more accommodating than Pakistan for the minorities you will know this fact definitely once you visit India.

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ashfaq1

Oct 29, 2014 10:47am

Pakistan wanted dialogue to start but india cancelled. Sounds like modi strategy is no dialogue and bullets only. I dont see any peace in the near future. People on both sides will continue to suffer direct bullets and burden of defence costs

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Rohan Singh

Oct 29, 2014 10:47am

@Sohail Didn't Bilawal tell you why India can't demilitarize the place? Was it not for Pakistan, Kashmiris would have lived in peace.

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Haider Rehman

Oct 29, 2014 10:49am

@Bharat A message to Indian BSF and Modi; killing innocent people for escalating Kashmir issue so that it nay linger on and would never be solved would not make Kashmir your territory. Let an UN referendum prevail, both armies retract under agreement and let Kashmiris decide their fate.

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Ravi Dallas TX

Oct 29, 2014 10:55am

I stopped reading LOC articles in full, as they only cover one side and most likely to gain sympathy or sensationalize if victim is child or woman or elderly. Exact same thing happens on the other side but the dear authors choose to ignore it.

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Hashim khan

Oct 29, 2014 10:56am

To all the Indian commentators. This is Pakistani forum to share our joys n sorrows. We don't go to Indian websites to share our stories. Please stay out of our forums. The more you guys speak here the more damage you do to your image vis a vis Pakistani population.

Recommend 0

Oct 29, 2014 11:06am

@vinay Shell doesn't have the sense to realize whether it hits old man or young man. It is the senseless people those throwing bombs from both sides.

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Danish

Oct 29, 2014 11:09am

India stop killing innocents... try your firepower on Chinese border.

Recommend 0

Oct 29, 2014 11:10am

It is an awkward situation. It is not possible to authenticate who is inciting, being LOC. We only hear the one sided news. Better sense has to prevail on both sides and must stop. Leaders those are inciting by irresponsible statements must understand, innocent people are suffering and they are sitting in AC room faraway from the location.

Recommend 0

Oct 29, 2014 11:19am

@Bharat Everybody knows and understands the reality. But it is the question of survival of politicians. They can make people fool in the name of Kashmir, once it solved their survival will be difficult.

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Yasir Ishaq

Oct 29, 2014 11:25am

Utmost remorse for this dire and coward invades by the side of Indian’s Army. Its inevitable war which both border has been sustaining since both countries got independence no one can eradicate this war onward. Too much lack of ethics and humanity

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raja hindustani

Oct 29, 2014 11:29am

@rehan : bro how about human right violation in pakistan where minorities are being killed & decimated. Minorties are being sent to jail or even get killed on the pretex of fake blasphemy law. Wat abt baluchistan? If you have to leave peacefully than forget kashmir obsession. Kashmir is integral part of india & those who doesn't want to live there, they are most welcome to go to pakistan or any other country.

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being human

Oct 29, 2014 11:37am

@Haider Rehman kashmiris lost that privilege when they persecuted and threw pandits out of the valley

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Sohan

Oct 29, 2014 11:38am

@Haider Rehman you keep chanting Kashmir u will not get anything. Pakistani militants killed or forced more than 3 lake kashmiri pandits to leave Kashmir valley dreaming that when referundam happends Kashmiri muslims will support them. There is no harm in dreaming so keep dreaming..

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raja hindustani

Oct 29, 2014 11:38am

Make LOC as permanent border otherwise these thing is not going to end. you obsession with kashmir led your country to present mess. You tried every means to grab kashmir but failed in all. So better use your resources into your own welfare. Live & let live.

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Yasir Ishaq

Oct 29, 2014 11:39am

@Sreenath Utmost remorse for this dire and coward invades by the side of Indian’s Army. Its inevitable war which both border has been sustaining since both countries got independence no one can eradicate this war onward. Too much lack of ethics and humanity

Recommend 0

Ali

Oct 29, 2014 11:39am

@Bharat Kashmiris shall get their own independence if not with Pakistan.

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RPK

Oct 29, 2014 11:49am

@rehan I will 100% agree with you that there are Human Right violations in Kashmir, if the number of Kashmiri people killed in India IN ONE YEAR are more than the minorities people killed in the name of religion in Sindh / Balochistan/FATA...... (choose one region...make your choice) in one day (Yes ONE DAY!).

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Chacko Cherian Calicut

Oct 29, 2014 11:57am

@Danish Chinese are civilised unlike Pakistanis who have never fired upon us after the war.Here lies the difference between having a troubled border with Pak and all of other Indian borders with other nations including China..

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Ramesh Ishu

Oct 29, 2014 12:00pm

they tell you about 80 years old but they don't tell the whole world that indian destroy 19 terror camp also with 2000 terrorist

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Frankenstein

Oct 29, 2014 12:18pm

the recent escalation in skirmishes along LOC have only bolstered after Modi took charge... and Modi worshiping a kalashnikov is present on Internet.. and then you "ONLY" blame Pakistan..learn to swallow your own mistakes as well #hypocrites

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rehan

Oct 29, 2014 12:26pm

@Manoj As if Indians are all milk and honey

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Akbaruddin

Oct 29, 2014 12:27pm

@Hashim khan For your kind information Indian websites like Times of India is swarming with hateful Pakistanis since ages. Regarding damage to our image vis a vis Pakistani population we very well know that there is irreparable damage already been done by your text books and false propaganda. We have right to put our point of view and facts here whether you chose to believe it or not.

Recommend 0

Manish

Oct 29, 2014 12:30pm

@Kamal what about condition of hindus in your country...Do you have any hindu actor,president,chief minister or captain of cricket team. You people think of your religion only..people from other religion are not human beings for you

Recommend 0

Ahmer

Oct 29, 2014 12:36pm

India is taking advantage of our desire for peace. Unless we start avenging each death with five of theirs, this will continue.

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Hammad

Oct 29, 2014 12:46pm

I don,t get it what was he doing near the LOC? Was he mad or our BSF is not aware of the current cease fire violations. No person from the public should be allowed entry into the restricted zone which should be almost 20 KM from the LOC and people should move to secure locations.

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Sunil

Oct 29, 2014 12:47pm

Where is the picture of the 80 year old man killed? Nice excuse to further inflame the Kashmir issue, which will not work.

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A shah

Oct 29, 2014 12:54pm

Write a letter?

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Hammad

Oct 29, 2014 12:54pm

@RPK you are dreaming... open your eyes to the reality. I don,t know which media channel you watch or get influence from ... The minorities are more secure and are living peacefully as long as you Indians don,t fuel them with such thoughts of deprivation.

Recommend 0

Hammad

Oct 29, 2014 01:07pm

I used to be a supporter of INDO-PAK peace talks until today.

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pmrao

Oct 29, 2014 01:21pm

@Sohail once you stop terrorist activities indian army will not be there

Recommend 0

pmrao

Oct 29, 2014 01:24pm

@rehan that's why no muslims from kashmir want to leave india and most hindus already left Pakistan. you use warplanes to kill your own people.

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Blunt Dara Kasuri

Oct 29, 2014 01:36pm

We need a decisive war please........................

Recommend 0

Malik

Oct 29, 2014 01:47pm

@Sohail Ask you army to demilitarize wazirstan first !!

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Sunil

Oct 29, 2014 01:52pm

@Lucky Star There is nothing shame, any one near to the border will get a stray bullet. specially when terrorists are lurking to get inside. India does not recognize anyone near to the border.

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Shah

Oct 29, 2014 03:47pm

An 80 years old man is killed and instead of talking about responsibilities Indians use aggressive language. If you guys are here to bring our people together then you guys are doing a super terrible job! Just stop the hate messages OK!

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Kumar

Oct 29, 2014 04:53pm

@BK It is difficult to ascertain who started firing. However, motives are clear. Either Pakistan starts and then go to international community when India responds. Pakistan is encouraging intruders in to India, when Indian soldiers fire at them Pakistani soldiers respond. The cycle continues and will not solve anything. India has no choice here but to respond and defend the border.

Recommend 0

Kumar

Oct 29, 2014 05:02pm

@Hammad How ignorant can you be? Have read Dawn in past. Minorities are being systematically eliminated through forced conversion, killing or intimidation and eviction. Your constitution itself discriminates against minorities. India has nothing to do with it. India should have made noise as Hindu population in Pakistan went down from 25% in 1947 to 1% today.

Recommend 0

NORI

Oct 29, 2014 06:34pm

Given that the old man was herding his goats and was killed by the shrapnel of a shell, it's strange that none of his goats were killed or at least injured. The report doesn't talk about it. The news report looks dubious because the reporter never seemed to have verified the incident personally.

Recommend 0

aamed

Oct 29, 2014 08:13pm

@being human stop lying. Where are these "Pandits." Pandits are nothing more then exaggerated stories further blown out of proportion by Indian media, and used by average indians to sooth your conscience and justify your countries illegal occupation.

Recommend 0

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