MUZAFFARABAD: Two men and as many women were injured and some houses damaged in Indian firing and shelling from across the Line of Control in different areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

The first casualty was reported from Khuiratta sector in the southern Kotli district where Mohammad Shakil, 35, was injured at about 3.30am in Janjot Bahadar village.

Indian shells also landed in Charhoi sector but no casualties were reported, an official told Dawn by telephone from Kotli.

In Samahni sector, shelling started at about 8am and continued till 1pm, leaving three people injured.

Samahni Assistant Commis­sioner Raja Arif Mehmood told Dawn by telephone that Indian troops used both small and heavy arms, targeting Baroh, Tandar, Chahi, Nihala, Khamba and Kotli Gujran villages of Samahni sector.

He identified the victims as Atif Majeed, 22, Irum Younas, 18, and Ishrat Bibi, 35.

He said several people lost their cattle to shelling while a mosque and five houses were partially damaged.

According to locals, Pakistani troops had returned fire.

AJK’s senior minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq condemned the Indian shelling, saying New Delhi was trying to divert world attention from targeted killings of people in held Kashmir.

“We salute the residents along the dividing line who are braving Indian aggression with great fortitude and call upon the international community to take stock of India’s provocative actions..,” he said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2017