SIALKOT: A farmer was killed and four others, including three women, were injured in unprovoked shelling by India in villages on the Sialkot Working Boundary in the small hours of Sunday.

Pasrur Assistant Commissioner Tauqeer Ilyas Cheema told reporters that the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) fired several shells in Harpal, Thathi Khurd, Theekariyaal, Jarwal and Charwah villages when people were having their Sehri.

One of the shells hit the house of Mohammad Iqbal, 45, in Thathi Khurd, killing him on the spot.

Forty-five-year-old Zahida Ansar, wife of another farmer Mohammad Ansar, their daughter Rabia Ansar, 17, and son Nouman Ansar,19, and another woman Azra were injured when shells struck their houses in Harpal.

Rescue 1122 officials took the injured to the Combine Military Hospital in Sialkot, where their condition is said to be critical.

“A civilian embraced martyrdom and four others were wounded when Indian BSF resorted to unprovoked firing in Charwah and Harpal sectors overnight and today,” military officials said.

Pakistan Rangers effectively responded to the Indian firing, the official added.

The shelling by Indian forces continued for about two-and-a-half hours till 3.30am.

The Pasrur assistant commissioner said dozens of houses and cattle sheds were damaged and about half a dozen animals killed.

Officials of the Chenab Rangers said their prompt and effective response silenced the Indian guns.

The Indian shelling caused harassment and panic among the residents of border villages.

Meanwhile, local MNA Chaudhry Armughan Subhani and MPA Chaudhry Tariq Akhtar Subhani strongly condemned the shelling and said Indian forces had targeted the civilian population.

It was the fifth incident of Indian shelling on Sialkot border villages over the past four days. On Wednesday, a farmer was seriously injured by the Indian shelling in Charwah sector.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2014