MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 5: Twelve people, including seven women, were killed by Indian shelling in Azad Kashmir, in what officials described on Sunday as the highest death toll in cross-border firing in recent months.

Nineteen people were also wounded after Indian forces fired “indiscriminately” across the Neelam Valley in Azad Kashmir on Saturday, they said.

“It was the heaviest shelling by Indian troops in recent weeks,” said Mahmoodul Hassan, deputy commissioner of Muzaffarabad.

“It started early on Saturday and continued till late (Saturday) night.”

Media reported on Saturday that one man had been killed and seven others wounded by the Indian firing.

Mahmoodul Hassan said the death figure had risen after Indian troops intensified their firing. “It is the highest death toll in recent months.”

He said Indian troops using mortars, medium artillery and small arms, had fired heavily into three villages in Neelam valley.

“Most of the casualties are from these villages,” he said.—Reuters