At least 11 civilians were martyred and 56 others, including women and children, sustained injuries after Indian forces resorted to unprovoked shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) late Friday night, officials said on Saturday.
According to AJK Information Minister Mazhar Saeed, Indian troops targeted civilian populations in border villages near the LoC, specifically in the Neelum Valley, resulting in heavy casualties and widespread panic among residents.
“Last night, Indian shelling struck densely populated areas, claiming the lives of 11 innocent civilians and injuring 56 others. Women and children are also among the injured,” Saeed told reporters in Muzaffarabad.
The minister added that the injured were being provided medical assistance at nearby hospitals, while local authorities had launched emergency response measures.
“Two villages — Ratta Pani and Bor — in the Neelum Valley have been evacuated as a precaution. Residents of these areas have been shifted to safer locations,” he said.
Saeed assured that the AJK government was closely monitoring the situation and providing relief and support to the displaced families.
