Gopal Sharma
NOWSHERA, May 18: As more and more families from the villages closer to Line of Control (LoC) continued to desert their houses in view of Pakistan shelling along the borders in Nowshera and Balakote sectors of Rajouri and Poonch, the affected villagers yearn for peace as their standing crop is getting damaged and studies of their children has been badly affected.
During these hot summer days, the condition of the migrated families from the border belt of Lam, Ser Makri, Kalsian, Jhangar, Sariya, Khamb and other villages and hamlets is pitiable. They have left their homes and hearths under terror of Pakistani guns. They are unable to take away their belongings in panic while running for their lives along with children during shelling. Some even left their cattle grazing in fields or tied with the tethers at their respective cattle sheds or under the trees.
While three persons have been killed so far in Pakistan shelling during last one week, about 400 cattle reported to have been killed and seriously injured in these 12 Panchayats of Nowshera Sub Division so far in Pakistan shelling. The reports of killing of animals/ cattle are still pouring in from various areas of the Nowshera sector.
With the closure of about two dozen Govt schools along the LoC villages in Nowshera, studies of more than 3000 students in the area has been jeopardized. Same is the position in over three dozen schools in Balakote sub sector of Mendhar in Poonch. Some villagers living across the fencing have also been shifted to the safer locations in Balakote area. The schools in Nowshera LoC belt have been abandoned by the teachers and students after District Administration ordered their closure and shifted the migrants to the safer zones.
Most of these students and villagers have moved to the four main camps at Govt Higher Secondary School, Boys Nowshera, Govt High School Nowshera and two Govt schools at Nonial, about 7 kilometers from Nowshera. The students from the private academies of the area have also shifted to the camps and for the last about one week, their studies have too, been affected.
Former Sarpanch from Khamb Panchayat, Parshotam Lal told the Excelsior that during last one year, the people from Nowshera belt of LoC were forced to migrate three times in view of Pakistani shelling. Last year also, their crop was damaged and this year again, they have lost their crop. They left in panic amidst shelling. The hard work of their one year has gone down the drain again as they left homes and their standing and ripe wheat crop in the fields. The cattle have also damaged their crops while some farmers had laid large heaps of the bundles of ripe crop in the fields. Their thrashing work was yet awaited.
Referring to the incident of shelling on April 17, Parshotam Lal said that it was war like situation on that fateful day. About 2000 shells from Pakistani side landed in the civilian areas of Jhangar belt of Nowshera. Between May 7 to 10 massive shelling took place in nearly 12 Panchayat areas of Nowshera. Three civilian casualties have taken place during these shelling while a team deputed by SDM Nowshera to the affected area has revealed that about 400 cattle/ sheep/ goats etc have perished in this belt in Pakistani firing.
Parts of some cattle have been eaten by other wild animals, dogs etc. A large number of cattle have been injured due to shelling. The Administration sent Veterinary teams to the affected area but there are no medicines available with the teams, he maintained.
The former Sarpanch demanded that Pucca bunkers be constructed in the area so that people could take shelter there and not become burden on the Administration at the time of crisis. He also said that in Nowshera sector only 12 border Panchyats are often get affected with firing but ALC benefit is being provided to all. He demanded that special quota should be provided to such people who are affected again and again.
Another border villager, Mohd Aslam from Pukharni said that there is a population of about 6000 in the area. Many people have not migrated from this village despite shelling. Majority of the people have their cattle and also large fields of wheat crop. He said milk supply is the major trade of the villagers from Pukharni and Lam belt. They make the supply of hundreds of quintals of milk and cheese to Nowshera and Rajouri towns on daily basis. Their this trade has also been badly hit with the Pak shelling. They suffered massive loss of their cattle during the Pak action.
Aslam further disclosed that people putting up in this area are passing sleepless nights and specially the children get terrorized when shelling starts. ” For us it is not new thing as since our birth, we have become habitual of living under the shadow of guns. Only their children get scared and start crying in case of shelling. The people will not migrate under such situation if Government provides them safe bunkers,” Aslam maintained.
Another villager Madan Lal alias Lali from Bhawani area said that Administration is helping the villagers in big way but still the sufferings of the people are manifold. He said ration and other items are being provided by the District and Sub Divisional Administration but education, health care, adequate water and power supply are the other issues which are adding woes of the people.
The studies of the children are badly hit. Most of the people are agriculturists and are dependent on cattle and milk supply to the towns. Their main livelihood has been badly affected. He said hardly any house is left which has not suffered damages due to Pak shelling. The Government must compensate these people who suffered damages in houses, shops, movable properties, losses in terms of cattle/ bovine animals etc.
Madan Lal said that DC, Rajouri Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, SDM Nowshera Harbans Lal and Tehsildar concerned are closely monitoring the functioning of migrant camps at Nowshera and also providing every possible facility. But the space is inadequate in these schools and the number of migrants is on the rise with each passing day.
About 11,000 people have been shifted so far and around 500 families are sitting in four camps at Nowshera and Nonial schools. Some families are staying with their relatives at various places. In camps some are now cooking at their own while many are taking meals at joint Langars in the camps. The administration has provided 15 kg free ration per family including 10 kg rice and 5 kg Atta besides 2 kg sugar and some other items including pulses etc but people do not have other items of daily use there. They said restoration of peace on border is must so that they could go back to their homes. He said ann NGO also came there and provided some pillows and bed covers etc.
SDM Nowshera, Harbans Lal Sharma said that free ration has been provided to the migrant families besides other items of daily use. A few NGOs also came forward to provide help but not at large scale. He said some Revenue officials have been deputed to monitor the functioning in camps and keep record of the people arriving there from different areas. He said the Administration has made arrangements of additional fans in school rooms converted into temporary camps and adequate light and water supply system. PHE tankers have been engaged to ensure water supply to these families. The teachers from border schools have been directed to take classes in the camps where these children have been shifted.
Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that migration has almost stopped now from LoC area in Nowshera sector. He said about 2250 people are in four camps in Nowshera and there will be around total 3500 people migrated from border villages. He disclosed that 51 schools from border belt of Nowshera are closed excluding four from local Nowshera and Nonial area where these villagers have been accommodated. Dr Shahid said free ration is being provided to them besides other items. For water supply, large water tanks have been installed at the camps. PHE tankers are deployed for the purpose. 100 fans were also provided to these families in camps. Temporary toilets have also been raised there. BDOs, Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars are looking after the facilities for them under SDM Nowshera. He said if the situation improves, these families will be sent back after taking up the issue with Army authorities within couple of days.
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