Early Times Report
RS Pura, Aug 29: Apprehending escalation in cross-border firing, border dwellers left their villages close to the International Border and took shelter in a temple last night in Ranbir Singh Pura sector of Jammu.
Hundreds of residents from Abdullian, Sai Khurd and Bagga have shifted to the temple located in village Mangaal in R S Pura apprehending more shelling from across the border.
Three civilians including two women were killed and 18 others wounded in the shelling at Arnia and R S Pura sector yesterday.
"People are scared and want to shift to safer locations especially during night time, an official said here today.
The district administration has made alternate arrangements for their stay with basic amenities in places like schools, temples and other government buildings.
"We want our children to regularly attend school but due to firing, they dont want to attend classes and they were not even ready to spend nights in the houses fearing shelling, Jeeto Devi, wife of Krishan Lal of Sai Khurd said.
She prayed for restoration of peace and calm between both the countries, asserting that it is in the interest of the people living close to the border on both the sides.
Daljit Singh Chib, a villager, said that it is for the first time after so many years, Pakistan fired heavily and targeted the civilian areas.
"Cross-border firing was a routine along the border but it is for the first time, Pakistan intentionally targeted the civilian areas along the international border as well as on the Line of Control, he added.
He said that paddy crop the fields close to the fence has got damaged due to heavy shelling and demanded compensation for the victims and the damaged crop.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh during his visit to the border belt had assured the injured full support from the State Government amid a grant of ex gratia compensation.
He termed ceasefire violations as acts of desperation.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, while condemning the killing of innocent civilians and injuries to many others in the persistent shelling from across the border, expressed solidarity with them and assured full support of his Government.
"We have to immediately explore ways and means to bring an end to the sufferings of the hapless civilians who have been subjected to great hardships over the last few months without any fault of theirs by the continuous shelling on IB and the LoC, he said.
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, MP, appealed for ending bloodshed and called for an immediate meeting of the DGMOs of the India and Pakistan to amicably sort out the issue so that lives of innocent civilians, who are under virtual siege from the past several months, are safeguarded. |
