MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 30: A government servant was killed on Wednesday as a jeep he was travelling in was hit by small arms fire by Indian troops from across the Line of Control in Neelum valley, officials said.

The vehicle (AJK-652) was coming from Nagdar village in the upper belt of the valley to Athmuqam when it was hit by unprovoked fire near the village of Sathrian, more than 80 kilometres northeast of here, Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Dr Mehmoodul Hasan told Dawn.

He said Khani Zaman, son of Ghulam Yasin, an employee of the agriculture department, was seriously injured and died on way to a military hospital in the area.

Residents said the road had been closed for traffic after the incident. A major portion of the Neelum Valley road that zigzags along the River Neelum is within the range of small arms fire by Indian troops.