8 killed as Indian forces target passenger bus near LoC

ISPR says Indian forces also fired on ambulance evacuating victims

MUZAFFARABAD: At least eight people were killed and nine others injured on Wednesday as Indian army targeted a passenger bus along the Line of Control (LoC) near Neelum valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

"Due to Indian unprovoked firing on a civil bus at Neelam valley this morning, number of civilians killed rises to eight," Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. "Indian forces also fired on an ambulance which went to evacuate the victims," the statement added.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

According to police, a coaster bearing number MDAJK-3866 was heading towards Muzaffarabad from Kel when it was attacked by mortar shells fired by Indian troops near Lawat Kanari Bala, some 100 kilometres away from Muzaffarabad. Pakistan Army retaliated and attacked Indian forces' posts silencing their guns.



PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISPR earlier said Indian forces resorted to firing and shelling in Shahkot, Jura, Battal Karela, Bagh, Bagsar and hot spring sectors targeting civilian population. Pakistani troops targeting Indian posts. Intense exchange of firing continues, it added.

The deceased were identified as Mukhtar Shah, Muhammad Younas, Ahmad and Arif Mustafai while body of a child is yet to be identified. Those injured in the incident were identified as Raja Gulfam, driver of the coach, police personnel Bashir Ahmad, Shafi Bhat, Sultan, Fazl Hussain, Manzoor Ahmad, Jawad Sultan, Imran and Sharafat Shah.

In a similar incident, a motorcyclist died after being hit by an Indian mortal shell in Karen area of Neelum valley.

Meanwhile, Speaker AJK legislative assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir condemned the Indian army attack and termed it aggression of the military establishment.

He appealed to the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) stationed in Muzaffarabad and Rawalpindi  to take the notice of killing of civilians on the LoC.

On Monday, four civilians were killed and 10 others were injured in different sectors along the de facto border while six Indian soldiers were also confirmed dead in retaliatory fire.

Later on the same day, Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office in protest of the violation.



On November 16, Army chief General Raheel Sharif said Indian premier Narendra Modi must have fully realised by now what Pakistan’s armed forces were capable of and that aggression is counterproductive.

The two countries have been at loggerheads since the killing of a populist rebel leader Burhan Wani by the occupied forces in the valley on July 8.

India also accuses Pakistan of being involved in an attack on an army base in Uri on September 18, in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed. Islamabad has denied the charge, which Delhi leveled without any substantial investigation or evidence.

Frequent incidents of cross-border fire have been witnessed since a heightened situation in occupied Kashmir. More than 100 protesters have lost their lives to the security forces in the valley while dozens blinded by use of pellet guns.