GILGIT, June 24: At least 10,000 villagers have been forced to migrate from several border villages in the Gangche district and Shayuk-Siachin-II sector along the Line of Control since 1998.

Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, Northern Areas Legislative Council Member Ghulam Ali Haidri said: “ The displaced villagers are compelled to take shelter away from their homes due to unprovoked shelling by the Indian army.”

He said 36 civilians had been killed and 40 others received serious injuries.

He said that about 286 families of Frano village and 22 families of Siari village were badly affected by the Indian shelling.

“A large number of these displaced families are living under the skies but no relief or assistance form any agency could be extended to the affected people,” he added.

Apart from that, Chowar, Tkhungmus, Sukhums, Kalam, Siksa, Piun, Pirthu and Hasanabad villages were also affected by Indian shelling, he said.

Mr Ghulam Ali demanded that the international community take serious note of the shelling on civilian targets and Indians should be asked to desist from committing inhuman acts of brutality.

He also appealed to government and non-governmental oragnizations to help the displaced villagers.

BOY KILLED: An eight-year-old boy was hit by an ambulance of district hospital Chilas in Kashroot, Gilgit, on Monday night. Young Kazim died of head and multiple injuries in DHQ hospital Gilgit.

The ambulance was carrying a patient from Diamer and ran over Kazim who was walking towards the Gilgit City Park alongside his sister.

KKH BLOCKED: The Karakoram Highway (KKH) was again blocked on Monday night near Pari area after remaining open for just three days.

The vehicular traffic between Gilgit, Chilas, Skardu and Rawalpindi was suspended on Tuesday as well.

The Frontier Works Organization was working round-the-clock to remove rocks and boulders that had blocked the highway.