Expressing grave concern over the plight of the people living along the borders and LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti Friday said the intermittent shelling along the borders has triggered a distressing situation in the State leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties on both sides.The Chief Minister conducted an extensive tour of the areas affected by the shelling along the LoC in Nowshera, Poonch and Rajouri sectors. She interacted with the affected families and took on the spot appraisal of the measures put in place by the administration to provide necessary support and help to them.Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh, Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj and Law & Justice, Abdul Haq Khan, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, Legislators, Qamar Hussain, Shah Muhammad Tantray, Anjum Fazili, Surinder Choudhary, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, Jonny William, Deputy Commissioners of Poonch and Rajouri and respective SSPs and other senior officer of district administration accompanied the Chief Minister.
Reiterating the urgency of deescalating the situation, the Chief Minister said there is no alternative to peace and reconciliation and New Delhi and Islamabad should take immediate and effective measures to revive the process of comprehensive and composite dialogue. She said that instead of squandering their resources on meaningless conflict, the two countries can be of great help to each other in their fight against the common challenges of poverty and economic deprivation in the region.Recalling the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Chief Minister said that due to various internal and external initiatives taken during the period, peace prevailed along the borders and the people living there were happy as the guns remained silent. She added that today again the leadership of our country with a strong support and backing will find a way out as wars do not help address any issue.Citing examples of war like situations in various countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, the Chief Minister said that wars have resulted in complete destruction of once most prosperous countries and annihilation of their cultures and civilizations. She said our political leadership did take the initiative to revive the process of reconciliation with Pakistan when Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi visited Lahore but then Pathankote happened and everything came to a standstill. She said it is time for Pakistani political leadership also to reciprocate and consider giving peace a chance in the region.
Chief Minister said that when the nation was divided on the basis of religion, Jammu & Kashmir rising above religious lines believed in brotherhood and inclusiveness. However, it is since these last 70 years of that division that the State has been facing this issue that has resulted in huge challenges to it, she said.While interacting with the affected people at Nowshera, Manjakote, Rajouri and Poonch, the Chief Minister expressed deep grief and pain over the loss of lives and damage to the property in the border shelling. She said the Government is alive to the situation and various measures are being taken for the people affected by the shelling.The Chief Minister said that under the new scheme announced by the Government of India next of kin of those who have died in the border firing shall get an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh. She said the families who lost their cattle will also be compensated under SDRF norms. She also gave away cheques of the initial amount/installment to the NoKs of those who died in the border firing.
The Chief Minister also visited the make-shift camp where the people from the affected border villages have been shifted and took stock of the arrangements put in place for them. She asked the concerned officers to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made to make their stay comfortable including ration, power, water and bedding. Later, the Chief Minister also chaired meetings of district administration separately at Rajouri and Poonch wherein she was briefed by the respective Deputy Commissioners about the measures taken to address the issues arising out of border shelling.In Rajouri, the Chief Minister was informed about the arrangements put in place and measures taken with respect to evacuation of people from the worst affected villages to safer areas in make-shift camps. It was further informed that there are four border zones within 0-5 kms including Rajouri, Manjakote, Nowshera and Sunderbani, covering 59 villages and 68 locations identified for establishment of camps.During the meeting Tehsil wise villages located along the LoC (witin 0-2 Kms) along with the details of population, which are most vulnerable to shelling, details regarding number of deaths, injured, loss of livestock, damage to property was also given in detail. The steps taken for evacuation of affected people including evacuation plans, establishment of control rooms besides healthcare facilities including ambulances and availability of medicines, ration, water and other arrangements were also highlighted.A similar meeting was also held at Poonch where in the Deputy Commissioner gave details with respect to Poonch, Mandi, Kirni, and Mendhar sectors. It was informed that at least 60 schools have been identified for establishment of make-shift camps for relocating the people living along the borders.
The Chief Minister was also apprised with preparatory arrangements like evacuation plans, medical facilities including emergency healthcare service, availability of ambulances and medicines besides other basic amenities that are required to be provided at such camps. The Chief Minister was also informed with details regarding the relief amount paid to the NoKs of those who have died and those injured in such incidents.The Chief Minister also sought details with respect of schools which have been temporarily shut down due to shelling across borders. She was informed that in certain areas students may continue their education in schools in towns where the camps have been established, while as the situation is being continuously monitored. The Chief Minister also asked for details with respect to issues arising out of pending harvest along the border areas. She instructed the district administration to fully support the people and ensure that they are provided with all necessary help during these testing times. She enquired about availability of medicines at dispensaries in the border areas and also said that a critical care ambulance for the district shall be considered to facilitate better handling of medical emergency situations.