Heavy shelling by Indian troops from across the Line of Control (LoC) claimed the life of a teenage boy in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday, pushing the death toll in ceasefire violations in the territory to at least 14 in the ongoing year, local officials said.

“Indian forces resorted to heavy mortar shelling at about 8:30am and, as usual, they are targeting the civilian population,” Waleed Anwar, assistant commissioner of AJK's Nakyal sector told Dawn by telephone.

He said a mortar shell struck a house in Dharoti Naari village at about 9am, causing the death of a 13-year-old boy, identified as Zian Ibrahim.

Anwar feared that there might be more casualties because the shelling had not stopped.

On February 23, a 48-year old man was killed and three others were injured in the same (Dharoti Naari) village while another man was injured elsewhere in Nakyal sector.

According to the AJK State Disaster Management Authority, the latest casualty has pushed the toll to 14 in the ongoing year, whereas another 61 have been wounded in cross-border firing and shelling.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...