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| Aggrieved LoC dwellers want UNMOG out | | `If it cannot ensure peace, it is not needed' | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Yet again the United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) stationed at Srinagar is in the line of fire as victims of cross LoC shelling have accused it of failure to ensure cease fire along the line of divide.
The shelling left two soldiers and a civilian dead and at least four civilians injured on this side of the LoC in Tangdar (Kupwara) Sunday.
The locals are aghast saying continued shelling from across the LoC gives them sleepless nights.
Abdul Rashid, 50, accused the UNMOG of failure to protect the lives of the people living along the LoC. "This UN body is meant for monitoring cease fire along the LoC but continued violations have gone un-noticed. What is the UNMOG doing? If it cannot do its job, it is not needed. The government of India must put it on notice and till it clearly to vacate," he said.
It is in place to mention here that the government of India sought intervention of the United Nations on January 1, 1948. The intention was to get Pakistan declared an aggressor. The UN while taking cognizance of New Delhi's complaint appointed the UNMOG to monitor cease fire along the erstwhile Cease Fire Line (present day LoC).
In 1972 after signing the Simla Agreement, New Delhi asked the UNO to withdraw its military observer from Jammu Kashmir. But the UNO refused. The former Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee was asked about it. He said: "It does not cause any harm to India."
"It has done nothing to prevent border shelling. People continue to die on both sides as LoC flares up very often," Rashid said.
According to him, UNMOG is a peace keeping apparatus and must ensure peace along the LoC.
However, people having knowledge do not agree with Rashid. They believe the UNMOG has to monitor the cease fire along the erstwhile cease fire line. "It cannot take action on its own. It has to report to the Security Council", they made clear.
Pertinently shelling continues in other sectors as well for quite some time. In Uri villages the people were evacuated to safer places last week when Pakistani troops bombed the villages. Some live shells were also found in the villages. The frontier villages in Poonch and Rajouri districts have a similar story to tell. Even international border in Samba and Kathua is not silent. The people registered strong protest on Sunday against shelling from across the border that left a civilian injured. The people chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and also torched an effigy. |
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