ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: Within hours of the US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s arrival in Pakistan on Monday, the Indian army opened indiscriminate fire on civilian population in two sectors at the Line of Control and working boundary killing one woman and injuring 35, a defence official said.

The Indian army, began firing first in the Phukhlian sector, about 30 kms north of Sialkot on the working boundary, at 5pm, Brig. Saulat a defence spokesman told Dawn. They used mortar and automatic weapons, and continued firing for 90 minutes.

A unit of Pakistan rangers deployed at the working boundary responded effectively causing damage to Indian pickets.

In the Rawalakot sector hostilities erupted at 6pm and continued until late on Monday night. Here too the Indian side used medium-range artillery and injured eight civilians, he added.

The brigadier refuted reports carried by some Indian news channels that substantial damage had been caused to Pakistani army positions along the Line of Control.

Our Sialkot correspondent adds: The Indian army resumed firing at 11.30pm. Janlore and Luni villages in Bajwat sector were the most affected.