Indian shelling kills villager in Sialkot

UN chief expresses concern over recent escalation.

SIALKOT: A civilian was killed early Tuesday morning after Indian Border Security Force (BSF) resorted to unprovoked heavy shelling of a village Thathi Khurd in Sucheetgarh Sector along the Working Boundary in Sialkot. 

According to District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sialkot Dr Asif Tufail, people were sleeping when the Indian BSF started unprovoked heavy mortar shelling on villages in Sucheetgarh and Charwah sectors along the Working Boundary early in the morning.

He said Muhammad Shareef (60) was hit by some mortar shells in his sleep in the courtyard of his house and died on the spot. His house was also badly damaged, he said. Six shepherds were also reportedly killed and more than two dozen others injured in these villages, the DCO added.

Local councillor Muhamamd Younas said that Indian shelling has created panic among the local people.

According to senior officials of the Punjab Rangers, the Indian BSF was targeting civilian population in the Sialkot border villages in Sucheetgarh and Charwah sectors with heavy mortar fire, in repeated violations of the ceasefire accord.

Meanwhile in New York, the United Nations Secretary General issued a statement expressing serious concerns about the recent escalation of violence along the LoC between India and Pakistan, which has reportedly resulted in a number of casualties on both sides, including civilians.

He conveyed his condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and called upon the governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians. The Secretary General also urged both countries to continue to address their differences through dialogue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2015.