Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 30: Notwithstanding the decision of the Government to shift civilians residing closer to the border belt of Kathua, Samba, RS Pura, Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch, Uri and Kupwara sectors as precautionary measures after surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads in PoK, the border villagers have refused to leave their homes and lauded the Indian Army for launching first ever this type of surgical attack on terrorists in PoK after crossing LoC.
During the visit of various border villages, the Excelsior teams found most of the villagers happy with the strike launched by the Indian troops and maintained that it should have been done much earlier. They maintained that the Pakistani aided armed terrorists are involved in blood-shed in J&K for the last about two and half decades.
It is for the first time that such “a surgical operation deep inside the PoK was carried out where militants were being given training by the Pak Army and ISI teams,” they said and hoped that Modi Government would give free hand to the Indian troops to carry on with such bold attacks on the terrorists in PoK which is the Indian territory.
While some female members along with their small children have moved from the villages closer to the zero line and went to stay with their relatives for few days in view of anticipated strike from the Pakistani side, majority of the people have refused to leave their homes on the plea that they have past experience and will move when an attack takes place.
Deputy Commissioners, ADCs, SDMs, Tehsildars along with senior police officers paid visit to the border belt of Kathua and Jammu besides other areas last evening and even today and asked the people to shift to the safer locations away from the border. Even some buses were also sent to the border villages of Hiranagar, Rajpura , Marheen and Samba belt but the villagers shown reluctance to move backward.
One Parmod Kumar from Pansar village in Kathua district, which was once targeted along with Chilyari few years back by Pakistani Rangers, said that there is no such threat and farmers are getting ready to reap their paddy crop. They will not go back this time as their crop is ready.
He said some Revenue and Police officers visited the village and asked them to vacate homes but people are not prepared for this. They have to look after their cattle and farms. There is no fear among them. Commenting on the Indian attack on the seven terrorist launch pads in PoK, Parmod said that people from this entire border belt are happy with the action of Indian forces and they celebrated it like big win. The people want that terrorists should be eliminated.
Tirath Singh from Chak Changa village on Zeroline in Hiranagar sub sector told the Excelsior that people are not prepared to flee this time. They have made up mind not to migrate. They have seen sufferings many times earlier as well. Farmers have good crop this time and they do not want to abandon their farms and cattle. Most of them are of the opinion that they will move only when there is any action from that side.
Most of the people of this entire belt are bold and they have remained shoulder to shoulder with the troops on the borders during troubled time. On the issue of Indian Army’s action in PoK, Tirath Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown great courage. He has silenced many people with this great action of Indian troops against terrorists on that side of the LoC. It has raised the morale of the troops and people of this great country also.
Ex-Sarpanch Bharat Bhushan from Bobiya village and Satpal from Maniyari, near IB also shared the same views and said that people are reluctant to leave their homes. They are living without fear but some of them have send their children and elderly people to their relatives’ homes residing away from the border. They lauded the action of Indian forces and said that people from the entire country have strongly supported it.
Bhartendu former Sarpanch from Rajpura village in Ghawal (Samba) said that SDM and SDPO visited the area on Thursday and they asked the villagers to move to the temporary camps at Ghagwal. But most of the people wanted to stay in their homes. Some women along with their children and elderly members moved to the temporary camp in the school at Ghagwal last night in the matadors and tractor trolleys for night stay and again returned to their homes in the morning.
The people are bold and experienced as they have seen this situation many times. He said that Government should provide 5 marla plots to these people at safer places and construct bunkers in their villages.
Janak Singh Numberdar from Nanga village in Samba said that there is no impact of appeals of the administration on the people to leave their homes. Hardly 4-5 % people including their children and women have moved to the safer locations. The people are carrying on their agriculture activities in the farms but BSF cautioned them not to move ahead of fencing for few days in view of the tension along the borders. Similar views were expressed by Des Raj of Rangoor Camp in Ramgarh. He lauded the strike by the Indian troops on that side of the LOC in which about 35 terrorists were killed. He said that such strike should be continued in future too, to teach a lesson to the Pakistan who is sending them into this side for killing innocents.
Reports from Rajouri said that about 1357 families of nine villages in Sunderbani and 6600 families of 26 border villages have been asked to remain on alert for few days in view of the surgical strike by Indian troops into PoK and possible counter attack from that side.
The SDM and Tehsildars along with ASP and SDPO visited these areas last evening and even today. But no reports of migration have been received so far. About 3860 families from Manjakote area 3400 families residing closer to the border in Rajouri have also been identified and asked to stay alert . They have also refused to migrate. Similar view has been expressed by the villagers from Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Jhallas, Golpur, Degwar area of Poonch. The people of this belt are also happy but majority of them expressed that war should be avoided.
One Madan Lal from Bhawani (Jhangar) in Nowshera sector said that there is no need to migrate as situation was normal on the LoC. He said war should have been avoided but this type of action inside LoC against militants was most deserving one. He said such attacks should be continued on Pakistan camps. Haji Mohd Saleem from Pukharni in Lam area of Nowshera said that some officers came to the village asked us to remain alert. They also suggested to move to safer places but the people are not prepared. He said people do not want war as it will cause destruction on both sides. But if it is necessary then let it happen once for all.
Tara Singh from Lam said that people of this entire belt are happy with the action of Indian forces. Modi has shown that he is bold to take such decisions. Entire country is happy with this strike of Indian forces.
Singh said that people will not migrate till border is disturbed. They have past experience of several wars and cross border firing. Munshi Khan from Balakote also said that people are still sitting in their homes near the LoC and are not prepared to migrate. He also opposed war and said that there was fear of escalation of Pakistan firing among the people of this belt.
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