MUZAFFARABAD/SIALKOT, May 22: Three persons died in overnight Indian shelling in different sectors of Azad Kashmir on Tuesday, and firing resumed on Wednesday, leaving three more people dead, officials said.

In Sialkot, the Chenab Rangers thwarted two more Indian attempts of fencing near Chhumb and Jammu sectors, destroying four frontline bunkers, an ammunition depot of Indian army, killing two Indian armymen and injuring four others. The Chenab Rangers retaliated effectively and targeted Indian posts and bunkers.

The firing between Chenab Ranges and Indian forces was continuing in almost all sectors near the Working Boundary.

On Tuesday night, the Indian troops started shelling in Chakothi and Nakyal sectors after 8:30pm. The heavy shelling continued beyond midnight, targeting civilian populations. In Nakyal sector, it killed a 10-year-old girl, Sughra, and injured her mother Nur Jehan in Tara Colony village. Abdur Rehman, Mubin, and Ms Gulshaid were also wounded.

In Chakothi sector, Rehmatullah died, and Bashir and Asad Shah were wounded in Tilikot village late Tuesday. In the nearby Gundi Garan village, one shell hit a house, killing 13-year-old Sabira and injuring her infant sister, Nasreen. Another girl, Kousar, was injured in the same village. The victims were brought to CMH here.

On Wednesday, the LoC remained calm till 12:30pm when shelling started in Samahni sector. Residents told this correspondent that the shelling was heavy as the enemy troops were using long-range weapons.

Many shells landed in the vicinity of the police station in Choki village which is as far as 12 kilometres from the LoC and was considered a safe area, they said.

Abdul Qayyum, Shafiq and Wajid Ali were injured in Choki. Qayyum later died in DHQ hospital, Mirpur.

A police officer told Dawn from Bhimbher that around 300 people (60 families) had been evacuated from the vulnerable areas in the neighbouring Chamb sector, and were temporarily rehabilitated in three educational institutions in Dhingewali village.

At 6:30pm, heavy shelling began in Hajira and Abbaspur sectors in Poonch district. Miskeen Malik and Chaudhry Farooq died in Kakuta village. Taufiq, Fazl and Ansar Mehmood were injured in Batal, Chatra and Mandhol villages. A market in Dhar Bazaar caught fire, leaving many shops gutted.

SIALKOT: Mohammad Ashraf and Waliur Rehman were working in their fields in Bajwat and Charwa sectors near the Working Boundary, respectively, when Indian shells hit them, leaving both of them wounded.