Border residents still sceptical about US-brokered ceasefire
Jammu, May 13 -- "What Pakistan did to us was unimaginable..." said Vinod Kumar, 51, of Poonch, calling Pakistani shelling from May 7 to 10 a 'living hell'.
People living close to the Line of Control (LoC) and in Poonch and Rajouri towns, have begin their journey home but are still sceptical about US brokered ceasefire. "I returned yesterday to my home with my family from Jammu but majority of the Hindus have not returned yet," Vinod Kumar added.
Kumar said, following intense shelling by Pakistan, people from Poonch town had fled to Jammu. "Since I have an underground bunker in my house, I along with my family shift in it during night because we still feel uncertain about US brokered ceasefire," he added.
Kumar, a teacher by profession, had fled to Jammu on May 8. "My house has been left pock-marked by Pak shelling. Window panes and doors have been shattered," he said.
Jamrodh Singh, nephew of Amrik Singh, who was killed in Pak shelling, said, "My uncle died before us. We are still not able to cope up with the harsh reality that we have lost him. Who will look after his daughter and son." Singh said, "The government had declared mock drill for May 7 but launched strikes in the night. No sirens rang ...no information was given to the people to take precautionary measures. At least people in border areas should have been alerted." He demanded a government job and adequate compensation for the family. Another resident of Poonch town, Krishan Singh said that people still lived in fear. "People in the town are observing self imposed blackouts," he said. "In the night, we take all possible precautions. Poonch town wears deserted look in the evening. There is self-imposed blackout. Shops shut early and traffic goes off road," he said. In Rajouri, situation is not different. "Very few have come back to Rajouri town and those who lives in villages along the LoC aren't spending nights in their houses," said Mohammad Wasim....
To read the full article or to get the complete feed from this publication, please
Contact Us.