In a blatant act of aggression, the Indian Army launched unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the martyrdom of five Pakistani civilians, with over ten others injured. The violence continued throughout the night in various sectors of the Poonch division, including Rawalakot, Hajira, Neelum Valley, and Kotli, with heavy retaliation from the Pakistan Army. According to local officials, the Indian artillery's bombardment was met with a swift and forceful response from the Pakistan Army, which silenced Indian gunfire across multiple posts along the LoC.

In the Khoirta sector of Kotli, four individuals, including a young girl, were martyred due to Indian shelling. The injured, numbering more than 10, were swiftly transferred to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Kotli for medical treatment. The shelling targeted civilian areas, adding to the growing toll of casualties in this ongoing conflict. The tragic news came from Rawalakot as well, where 22-year-old Osama Ishrat, a resident of Kotdi Najam Khan, lost his life in Indian shelling.

Osama, who had just been married 10 days ago, was killed while his two sisters sustained injuries. Authorities reported that at least three others were wounded in the unprovoked firing in the nearby town of Hajira. The injured were promptly shifted to the hospital. Meanwhile, in Neelum Valley, violations of the LoC by Indian forces entered their third consecutive day, with fresh reports of civilian casualties. The Indian Army has been targeting civilian populations in sectors including Shahkot, Jura, Athmaqam, Dodanial, Sharda, Kiel, and Helmat.

Pakistani forces retaliated fiercely, engaging Indian positions and silencing the artillery barrage. A youth from the Upper Kiel area sustained serious injuries as a result of Indian shelling, while mortar shells fired by Indian forces caused significant damage to the Nadra office building in Kiel. Local officials confirmed that emergency measures were being taken, with an emergency declared at the DHQ Hospital in Athmaqam to accommodate the surge of casualties.

In another disturbing development, reports from the administration indicated that the Indian Army had been spreading toy bombs along the LoC, a tactic that has alarmed local citizens. Authorities have urged the public not to approach any unidentified objects, highlighting the danger posed by these devices. The ongoing violations have escalated tensions, with the Pakistan Army taking further defensive measures, including the downing of an Indian quadcopter.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)