MUZAFFARABAD: Two civilians were killed and as many wounded in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday as Indian troops fired from across the Line of Control (LoC), officials said.

Casualties occurred in Chamb sector, where Indian troops started heavy shelling at about 6am, said Chaudhry Guftar, the deputy commissioner of the area.

The deceased were identified as Muhammad Rafique and Wazir Hussain of Pir Jamal and Vatala villages, respectively, and the injured as Jannat Bibi and her 18-year-old son Muhammad Usman in Patoiyan village.

The woman was admitted to Barnala Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, but her son was taken to Bhimber District Headquarters Hospital due to his critical condition, Mr Guftar said.

AJK’s acting Prime Minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq spoke to the deputy commissioner and district health officer of Bhimber and directed them to provide free treatment to the injured.

He asked them to ensure early payment of compensation to heirs of the deceased.

In a statement, the acting prime minister condemned the savagery of Indian troops both inside the held territory and along the LoC.

“Indian troops are ceaselessly violating the ceasefire agreement and what is more condemnable is their practice of targeting unarmed civilian population,” he said.

The acting prime minister was of the view that Narendra Modi’s extremist government was purposely mounting tensions under its “ugly domestic political agenda”.

“When they fail to suppress the popular public movement inside the held territory they take its revenge on AJK’s civilian population along the LoC,” he said.

According to the State Disaster Management Authority, Thursday’s casualties raised the death toll caused by Indian shelling this year to 20.

Army officials said that Pakistani forces returned fire and it was unclear if there were any casualties on the Indian side.

There was no immediate comment from India.

Besides, the Inter-Services Public Relations in a statement said that Pakistan Army troops targeted the Indian posts which had initiated fire.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2018