JKAP seeks evacuation of Kishtwar families from Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 12: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader and former legislator Abdul Rahim Rather today demanded immediate evacuation of hundreds of families of Marwa-Wadwan district Kishtwar who are stranded in Kokernag and Larnoo areas of district Anantnag.
In a statement issued here, Rather remarked that hundreds of families from different areas of district Kishtwar especially from Maewa-Wadwan are stuck up in tehsil Kokernag and Larnoo because of the prevailing lockdown over COVID-19 pandemic.
“These people come to Kokernag area to evade the much harsh winters at their native places and to earn wages to feed their families. Some among them are the students who prepare from the tuition centres. Now, these people have reached at the verge of starvation because of the lockdown,” Rather said while demanding their immediate shifting to Kishtwar.
The JKAP leader also disaproved the Government claims of distributing free ration among such stranded families saying that many stuck up families of Kishtwar have approached him with pleas for ration to feed their children. “A population of one to two thousands of these people are presently stranded in the tehsils of Larnoo and Kokernag only. Due to the prevailing pandemic these people are suffering their worst. They have been deprived of free ration and other facilities extended to the stuck up people across the Union Territory,” the JKAP leader added.
Rather said that the administration is neither extending any help to these families nor allowing them to move toward their homes for a dignified living. “If the Government of J&K is helping out every stranded person including the non locals, why these people stand neglected finds no reason. I appeal the Govt to help them and order distribution of free ration and some cash assistance to these families,” he demanded.
He also appealed the District Administration Anantnag to explore possibilities of their evacuation from Kokernag and Larnoo to their homes as early as possible.