Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: After a gap of eight years, civilian bunkers have once again started surfacing in the hamlets along the Line of Control in Poonch as a war like situation erupts on the border between Indian and Pakistan amidst frequent ceasefire violation by the neighbouring country.
As a precautionary measure, populace in several villages from Balakote to Sabzian sector along the LoC, have started constructing bunkers adjoining their houses or renovating the old ones for safety from the unprovoked firing from across the border.
“Frequent hostile actions by Pakistani troops and pre-2003 like situation on border has forced us to again construct the bunkers near our houses for safety from unprovoked firing from across the border,” said Khetarpal Sharma, a Government teacher and resident of village Salhutri.
Pertinent to mention that around 45 villages including Kerni, Jhallas and Salotri in Krishna Ghati sector have remained worst affected because of conflicts between India and Pakistan. The Inhabitants here used to construct bunkers adjoining their houses for safety of their life during firing from across the border. The local units of Army also used to provide them training as safety measures and usage of these bunkers during emergency.
However, after border ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan in 2003, these bunkers became useless as peace prevailed on the border with silence of guns from both the sides. The people who constructed new houses in these areas during the last eight years, did not find it necessary to build bunkers while the existing ones were either buried or rendered ruined.
But the prevailing war like situation on the border in wake of repeated ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops, particularly after the barbaric beheading of two Indian jawans on January 8 and last Monday’s failed flag meeting between the commanders of two countries, has forced these border inhabitants to reconstruct their bunkers for safety of life.
“The prevailing situation has forced people to be extra cautious and recreate these bunkers for refuse from heavy firing from across the border,” said Ghulam Rasool of Sloor, a village situated on extreme border between the two countries.
Raj Kumar, a small businessman of Chelas fears revisit of 2002 migration when entire populace of the area had to flee to Poonch after Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing targeting civilians. ” The current situation is also like of those days and we have no option other than to take precautionary measures such as building of these bunkers,” he said.
He informed that some locals have also approached the army authorities and civil administration for a facilitating them in safety measures.
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