'Indian border fire kills three civilians'

Pakistan yesterday accused India of killing three civilians and wounding several others in cross-border fire, as tensions soar in disputed Kashmir.

The incident occurred in Nakyal sector, near the frontier dividing Indian-held Kashmir from Pakistan's Punjab province, Pakistani officials said.

"At least three people including a women and a girl were killed and five others injured when Indian troops opened fire across the border near Nakyal sector on the Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan," district administration official Adnan Khursheed told AFP.

Zeeshan Nisar, an administration official in Nakyal confirmed the incident, adding that a seven-year-old girl was among the dead.

A doctor at the hospital in Nakiyal sector put the number of injured slightly higher at seven. "Three of the injured are in critical condition while four injured are stable," Muhammad Nasrullah told AFP.

Meanwhile, India's Border Security Force (BSF) said it has been able to kill 15 Pakistan Rangers since October 21 when a fresh flash point erupted after a sniper attack on a BSF Jawan.

Speaking to The Hindu, Deputy Inspector General, BSF, Dharmendra Pareek, said, "There are inputs of at least 15 Pakistan Rangers being killed in retaliatory firing on the International Border. We have been witnessing heavy firing and shelling since October 21 in large parts of the IB."