MUZAFFARABAD: Five people were killed and another 10 injured on both sides of the Line of Control on Sunday as Indian and Pakistani forces shelled in fresh violation of the ceasefire.

Indian troops resorted to firing in different villages of Nakyal sector in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, leaving 10 people injured, officials said.

“Indian troops started heavy mortar shelling at about 7am, targeting civilian population in all villages along the Line of Control,” Nakyal Assistant Commissi­oner Waleed Anwar said.

A shell exploded on the roof of Haji Aslam’s house in Palani village, injuring his three daughters, he said. They were identified as Nargis, 25, Musarrat, 22, and Samra, 18.

In the same sector, 11-year-old Aleeba Majeed and 35-year-old Muhammad Zahoor Mughal were wounded in Jair Merg and Dharoti Naari villages, respectively, Mr Anwar said.

Abdul Aziz, 18, Abdul Ghani, 52, and Farzand Begum, 42, were injured in Balakot village.

In Naar Dabsi village, 50-year-old Shamim Akhtar was injured, Mr Anwar said, adding Chaudhry Sher Mohammad, 79, was injured in Androt village.

District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Kotli medical superintendent Dr Tariq Mehmood said three injured had been admitted to the facility owing to their critical condition, while the rest were being treated at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Nakyal.

Condemning the ceasefire violations by Indian troops, AJK’s senior minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq said that Indian government had been creating a war-like situation along the LoC under a well thought out policy to meet domestic political needs.

“Whichever the government in New Delhi, it has always tried to exploit anti-Pakistan sentiment for political mileage, and the ongoing tension along the LoC is its ample proof,” he told Dawn.

“I salute the valiant people living along the highly vulnerable areas of LoC for braving unrelenting ceasefire violations from the Indian side with proverbial courage and nerve,” he added.

Earlier in the day, five members of a single family were killed when a mortar bomb fired by Pakistani soldiers landed on their home in India-held Kashmir, police claimed.

Police said a 35-year-old man, two children aged seven and 12, a teenage boy and a woman were killed in the incident that happened in the southern Poonch sector.

“The five were killed inside their home when a shell fired from Pakistan side of the border hit it,” director general of police, Shesh Paul Vaid, told AFP.

Two girls, including a five-year-old, were injured and taken to hospital, a police statement said.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2018