Woman Killed In ‘Indiscriminate’ Shelling By Indian Troops Across LoC: Pakistan

Srinagar: A woman was killed while another sustained injuries as Indian troops Wednesday targeted civilian population in two different areas of “Azad” Kashmir from across the line of control (LoC), Pakistan media reports said quoting officials.

Neelum Deputy Commissioner Raja Mahmood Shahid told Dawn that “indiscriminate” shelling by Indian troops began at about 8:50 am in the morning and continued till 2 pm intermittently, during which the troops targeted civilian population in district headquarters Athmuqam and its surrounding hamlets.

A mortar shell landed in the courtyard of a house in Bugna village on the outskirts of the district headquarters, killing Sajida Bibi, a 35-year-old mother of six, he said.

“Splinters from the shell pierced through her neck, causing huge loss of blood that led to her on the spot death,” the deputy commissioner said after visiting the aggrieved family. Shahid handed over a cheque of Rs 0.3 million on behalf of the AJK government to the heirs of the deceased woman.

Elsewhere, a 35-years old woman, identified as Parveen Bibi, was injured after being hit by shrapnel from a mortar shell in Nali village of Barnala, said Bhimber Deputy Commissioner Sardar Khalid, of which Barnala is one of three subdivisions.

The woman was admitted to the military dressing centre in Bhimber where her condition was stated to be out of danger, he added.

Khalid further informed that Indian troops also resorted to small arms fire in Baghsar sector but no casualties were reported from there.