S TAHIR-UL HAQ
EARLY TIMES REPORT
KUPWARA, Dec 29: No promise whatsoever be it a matter of tunnel or bunkers was fulfilled with the people that are living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Karnah, Keran, Tangdhar, Teetwal and Machil sectors or other places, of this north Kashmir district.
Sadiullah Khan of Tangdhar sector telephoned Early Times said that, Pakistan violated ceasefire violations in this north Kashmir district on Thursday, and the fact is that a people are gripped in ‘fear psychosis’ and they want to shift permanently to the plain areas of Kupwara district.
“From past several weeks, there is an intermittent fire and mortar shelling from Pakistani side due to which the people are afraid and they dug the underground bunkers at their own for safety, we have shifted cattle’s and other household items to our relatives in Kupwara town, said Khan.
According to Khan, around five houses got completely damaged while as 15 houses got partially damaged due to cross border firing in Teetwal sector and even though a local Mosque and roof top of many houses were also partially damaged.
The local residents of Tangdhar sector said that, we get relief only after India gave befitting reply to the Pakistani aggression, due to which to some extent they stop the firing but we are afraid the situation takes place.
Lat time, many villages including Dhani, Amwori, Chamkote, Saidpora Chaterkadi, Panjtara, and Amroi that came under shelling, adding many times in past we requested the government to make some arrangements for the people of border areas, and construct underground bunkers, while as we dug some temporary underground for our families, which are not concreted and can get damaged with heavy snowfall, added Khan.
However, sources said that, especially the tension is escalating high among the children and women of rural areas of this north Kashmir who are living very close to the Indian border, and many families have shifted in the government buildings.
There was an early snowfall this year, due to which road link with rest of the Kashmir during winter remains cut off, thousands of residents living in the far flung areas of Karnah, Tangdhar, and Keran suffer immensely as they don’t have any other route to reach their destinations during harsh winters, said sources.
Sources also said that, there is no other alternative except the construction of a tunnel which is the best option to ensure round the year connectivity of this mountain locked area, it seems that promises falls flat, and dreams remained confined to eyes only.
Almost having a population of more than one and half lakh, the resident of Karnah, Tangdhar, Keran and Teetwal remains cut off from rest of the Valley most of the times from December to April every year, which is very unfortunate for the people of this border district, sources added. |
