MUZA F FA R A BA D: Four members of a family were injured in Leepa valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in an overnight exchange of heavy fire across the Line of Control (LoC), officials and residents said early on Thursday.

The exchange of Hre in the picturesque valley, about 100 1(ilometres southeast of Muzaffarabad, began at about Spm on Wednesday and continued till 2am on Thursday, said Deputy Commissioner Jhelum valley Abdul Hameed Kiani.

`Initially, they (Indians) used small arms but later resorted to use of heavy arms, targeting both the army posts and civilian populations in Union Council Naukat,` he told Dawn.

`Pakistan army gave them a befitting response, he added.

The army refers to the Naukat UC as the Kayani sector, in memory of Lt Col Haq Nawaz Kayani, who laid down his life in Leepa valley on May 5, 1972, while recapturing Pakistan`s position on a ridge.

In a statement, the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said Indian border troops resorted to `unprovoked` ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nakyal and Kayani sectors late on Wednesday with heavy weapons and mortars.

`Pakistan armyresponded effectively on Indian posts to silent guns targeting civilians (sic),` it said.

Deputy Commissioner Kiani said a shell landed on a house in Channiyan village injuring four members of the family.

Identifying them as Rafiq, his wife Parveen, son Taufig and brother Nazir, he said they were being treated in a local army-run health facility.

Foreign Ofñce spokesperson M. Nafees Zal(aria also confirmed injuries to four civilians in Indian shelling `with heavy weapons and mortars in Kayani sector.

Staff Correspondent