Mohammad Tahir
Baramulla: Amid escalation of tension between India and Pakistan a fear has engulfed the residents of border villages as their demands for underground bunkers have not been fulfilled yet. Political parties staged protest and appealed government to save the precious lives and provide underground bunkers for the people.
In the recent past there was a war like situation between the two neighboring countries of South Asia, India and Pakistan, after India claimed that, Pakistan based militant outfit, Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) was behind the Pulwama militant attack that claimed the lives of more than 40 CRPF personnel.
However sources said that the Pulwama attack created fear psychosis among the general public of Kashmir in particular and India in general, and the attack escalated tension between India and Pakistan.
On February 26, India carried out a major aerial strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote area of Muazaffarabad in Pakistan. On the very next day, Pakistan claimed that they retaliated and downed Indian air fighters and that lead escalation of tension between the two countries.
In the escalation of tension, dozens of border villages in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district felt the heat, after Pakistan exchanged artillery fire on some Indian post near the LoC, which compelled the border residents to move towards the safer places for safety.
Bashir Ahmad of Kamalkote said, “recently government announced for construction of underground bunkers in Jammu division, and people of Uri area have many times appealed for the same, but we are being given step motherly treatment.”
He said that there are dozens of villages that are living close to the Line of Control (LoC) In Uri sector. These include Kamalkote, Uroosa, Charunda, Batgran, Slikote, Tilawari, Hatlanga, Isham, Soura, Balakote, Mardia, Chakra, Sultandaki, Thajal, Nambla, Garkote, and Uri town.
“From past many years we have been witnessing that locals were denied of bunkers due to some political differences, whenever there is a ceasefire violation from either side, people migrates towards the safer places”, narrates a local resident of Uri.
Recently people of various villages in Uri sector staged a protest in the main town, demanding permanent underground bunkers for the residents living close to the Line of Control (LoC) and for shelling prone areas, adding we want government should maintain peace and stability in the region and not destruction of lives and property.
People believe that these permanent underground bunkers could save the lives in cross border firing or shelling, as they have been demanding underground bunkers from decades but no one has paid attention towards their pleas.
Dr Sajad Shafi of National Conference said that border tensions had already panicked people in Uri areas and with the result several families were shifted to Government Higher Secondary school Uri. He appealed government to save the precious lives and provide underground bunkers for the people.