KHUIRATTA, AJK – At least seven civilians including four women were injured in Indian border forces unprovoked firing in Khuiratta sector at Line of Control (LOC).
According to an official, four persons were injured in Khuiratta and Charhoi sectors of Kotli district and the rest in Samahni sector of Bhimber district, but officials feared that casualties could rise as shelling was continuing in some areas.
The injured were identified as Mohammad Younus, 35, Samina, 30, and Rehana, 26, in Nidhi Sohana village of Khuiratta sector and Afraz Begum, 42, in Sabzkot village of Charhoi sector who were rushed to THQ Hospital Khuiratta.
Pakistani forces gave a befitting reply and silenced Indian guns. “India is continuously committing ceasefire violations to divert the attention of international community from ongoing freedom movement in IOK, ISPR has said in his statement.
Chaudhry Zulqarnain Sarfraz, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kotli, while talking to Dawn on phone said, “Indian troops resumed shelling at 7am without any provocation, targeting the civilian population.”
“The shelling had been intense and indiscriminate for about one and a half hours, but it has stopped now,” the SSP added.
However, in Samahni sector of Bhimber district, which is adjacent to the Charhoi sector of Kotli district, the shelling had not stopped, according to Deputy commissioner Chaudhry Guftaar Hussain.
So far three persons — Mohammad Sharif in Chahi village, Nisar Ahmed in Tander village and Anila Bibi in Kathyala village — had been injured, he said, adding that two of them were critical.
Deputy commissioner Hussain feared that the number of injured persons could increase.
“Since the shelling continues, we are unable to ascertain exact and entire information on losses. We will be able to give exact figure only after the guns fall silent,” he said.
As many as two deaths and three injuries on the Indian side of the LoC owing to the crossfire, reports Times of India.
Three civilians had also died as a result of Indian border forces unprovoked firing at LoC three days ago.
