SIALKOT: Four members of a family were killed and 12 others severely injured in shelling by Indian Border Security Forces on border villages along the Sialkot Working Boundary on Thursday night.

According to local officials, mortar shells fired by India hit the house of Mohammad Ashfaq in Beeni Sulehriyaan village (Charwah sector), killing Mariyam Bibi, Mariyam Ashfaq, Maqsud and Ashraf on the spot.

They said Imran, Mariyam Bibi, Nafees Bibi, Khursheed Bibi, Umer Afzal, Hafeezan Bibi, Samreen Bibi, her son Salman, Mohammad Ashraf, Sughra Bibi, Mohammad Majeed and Mohammad Jabbar were injured in Kundan Pur, Bajra Garhi and Beeni Sulheriyaan villages in Charwah, Sucheetgarh and Harpal sectors. Most of them received serious head injuries.

Rescue 1122 took the injured to the Combined Military Hospital, Sialkot.

Rasheeda Bibi, 65, died of heart attack during the Indian shelling in Behlaadpur village.

Sialkot District Emergency Officer Syed Kamal Abid said 13 ambulances were rescuing people, but the continued shelling made their task difficult.

According to the local officials, the Indian forces resorted to shelling on villages Joiyaan, Anula, Bajra Garhi, Naankey Chak, Dheelam (in Bajra Garhi sector), Harpal, Salaankey, Wahga, Khanor, Sangiyaal, Umeraanwali, Sarhaal, Jarwaal (in Harpal sector), Thathi Kalaan, Wainse, Daallowali, Thathi, Meendarwal and surrounding villages (in Sucheetgarh sector), Jarwal, Charwah, Merajkey, Akhnur, Tulsipur, Behlaadpur, Mairaajkey, Jamaal Jand, Dhamaala, Haakimwala, Tulsipur, Lasso Chak, Bharthaal, Rangpur, Tandiyaal, Thakariyaal, Sangiyaal and surrounding villages (in Charwah sector), targeting the civilian population.

Dozens of cattle head were killed and injured, while numerous houses were badly damaged.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017