MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 16: Indian troops on Friday targeted a passenger bus in Azad Kashmir injuring at least six persons on board, a senior police official said.

DIG of AJK police, Sheikh Tahir Qayyum, said the Muzaffarabad-bound bus (AJK- 8085) was hit near Zero Point, the entry point of Lesva bypass in the lower belt of Neelum valley, at 10am without any provocation.

As the vehicle diverted from main road to the bypass, a mortar shell landed a few yards away from it. The sharpnels of the shell injured at least six people who were taken to a nearby military hospital, the DIG said.

The injured were identified as driver Mohammad Irshad, conductor Kifayat, Gulshan Iqbal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sajjad and Kamran, he said, adding that the driver and a passenger were in critical condition.

The police official said had the shell hit the bus directly, severe loss of life would have occurred.

Between July 29 and Aug 2 shelling by Indian forces of the Neelum valley has resulted in eight deaths, scores of injuries and widescale destruction of property.

Friday’s shelling along the heavily militarised Line of Control came after a silence of almost a week. Last casualties were reported on Aug 9 when three people were wounded in the Tatta Pani sector of the southern Kotli district.

The DIG said shelling around Zero Point continued intermittently till afternoon, but no further casualties were reported.