J&K prepares for more trouble

JAMMU, JUNE 29: The civil administration and the local people are gearing up to face any eventuality, as the Pakistani troops step up mor...

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JAMMU, JUNE 29: The civil administration and the local people are gearing up to face any eventuality, as the Pakistani troops step up mortar and medium weapon fire at various places along the LoC and International Border (IB). The move apparently aims at opening some new fronts besides Kargil.

Sources said the state Government has cancelled all kinds of leave, except the casual, due to all its employees in view of the mounting tension along the border. Even for availing casual leave, the employees have been asked to seek prior permission from their respective head of departments.

Not only this, the Deputy Commissioners have also started setting up civil-defence committees, besides having prepared contingency plan to evacuate people from border areas in case of any eventuality. The constitution of civil-defence committees has been completed in all major towns and cities, the sources said. “Sirens” (alarms) have also been installed at all the places to caution people against any Pakistani attack.

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TheArmy has barred the entry of outsiders within the five kms belt along the LoC, the sources said. The dusk-to-dawn curfew in the area has already been enforced banning the movement of locals during night, they added.

Nearly one lakh people have migrated from their native places in the wake of Pakistani firing in border areas. Some villagers have lost their lives and many have been injured due to firing from across the border in the last fortnight. Some of them are putting up in Government school buildings, while most of them are living with their relatives. The government officials, however, put the number of migrants at 60,000. They admit that the migration is going on, with villagers leaving behind their cattle in view of the tension prevailing along the border with Pakistan.

Nikkobal, Devigarh, Treva, Korotana, Pindi, Abtal, Nanga, Nathwal, Jassochak, S M Pur and Sai and many areas in Jammu and Kathua districts are the worst hit by Pak firing. Similarly, Pakistani mortar shells having been poundingKalsian, Seir Makri,Jhanghar, Bhawani, Pukherian, Kerni, Sawjian, Balakot, Degwar and various other places in Rajouri and Poonch district.Though there has been no migration of people from border areas of Rajouri and Poonch, they have constructed bunkers to take shelter against Pakistani shelling, the sources said. Some have shifted elderly family members, besides women and children to safer places at night.