Pakistan claims LoC firing left one dead, three injured
A young boy was killed, while three other members of his family were injured due to heavy Indian shelling in Leepa Valley of Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK).
“The shelling started by midday and it had been intense,” said Deputy Commissioner of Jhelum Valley Abdul Hameed Kiani. He said that a shell landed on a house in Ruddan Gheekot village, leaving 12-year-old Umair dead, while his siblings 10-year-old Aqsa, 7-year-old Uzair, and uncle Shah Nawaz, were injured.
The deputy commissioner feared that the number of casualties could be higher. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the death of one boy in Leepa valley in unrelenting ceasefire violations by Indian troops, “despite facing losses of men and material inflicted by Pakistan Army’s response.”
“Indian Army targeted innocent civilians in Gheekot and Mandal villages of Leepa sector where civilians were preparing for Jumma prayers,” the ISPR said.
The ISPR claimed that the Pakistan Army “effectively responded, destroying three Indian posts, killing three Indian soldiers, while injuring many others.”
“Pakistan Army stands by its innocent civil population and would continue to respond befittingly,” the ISPR said.
Leepa Valley is located some 100 kilometres south-east of Muzaffarabad in Jhelum Valley district, which was earlier known as Hattian Bala district. Mohammad Babar Mir, a resident of Gheekot, claimed that Indian army was using (40 mm) Bofors guns.
Earlier a civilian was injured in the fresh firing from across the line of control (LoC) while a soldier succumbed to injuries. As the border tension escalates chances for revival of trade and people to people contact besides talks with separatists and Pakistan have become dim. India wants first of all Pakistan to stop ceasefire violations and give up its plan on assisting militants to sneak into the Kashmir valley for hiking the level of violence and then the “atmosphere to become conducive for talks and revival of cross-LOC trade and people to people contact.’’
KV Correspondent
