MUZAFFARABAD: A teenage boy was martyred and six civilians were injured in Bhimber district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday in shelling by Indian troops from across the Line of Control.

Officials said that casualties occurred in different villages and Dhal Khumbah Union Council of Samahni after the Indian army resorted to “heavy” shelling at about 5pm, said Mir Muhammad Abid, Superintendent of Police in Bhimber.

In Sona, a hamlet near Baroh village, a teenage college student lost his life after splinters of a mortar shell landed close to him and pierced his body, he said. The deceased was identified as Waleed, 16.

SP Abid said that in Baroh village, Raja Masood, 60, and Yaseen, 50, suffered injuries due to the enemy shelling.

Elsewhere, he said, Misbah, 25, Muhammad Suleman, 22 and Muhammad Zaheer, 40, were injured in Khumbah village and Muhammad Qasim, 70, was injured in Ramloh village.

A disaster management officer in Bhimber said there were reports of damage to a vehicle and several houses in the affected area.

In a brief statement from Quetta, AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider condemned “incessant and unprovoked Indian shelling of AJK’s civilian population” and reiterated his call to the UN and the international community to take serious notice of India’s belligerence.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2020