Post Kashmir attacks: fear among border residents grow further

Families migrating to safer places till elections

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 6: In the backdrop of yesterday’s militant attack in Kashmir valley, the fear among the border residents of Jammu region has grown further, with many families reportedly migrating to safer places to evade ‘firing ire’.

Scores of residents from border village Chalyari in district Samba, besides Arnia, RS Pura, Kanachak, Pargwal and Gajansoo sector in Jammu district have reportedly moved to safer places to evade ire of cross border firing, ‘till the culmination of ongoing elections’.

“The brisk polling in the first two phases of Jammu and Kashmir assembly election has frustrated the other side (Pakistan) and to disrupt or deter further voting, it (Pakistan) has resorted to ceasefire violations, besides pushing in of infiltrators to disturb   atmosphere in the state,” said Jagdish Singh of border village in Samba.

He added that Pakistan cannot be trusted at this juncture, as elections are going on and ‘Pakistan can stoop to any level to vitiate the atmosphere, to create fear psychosis among voters’, especially in the border villages, where it had already caused much damage in the past few months.

He said, “To escape firing of Pakistani rangers and for the safety of my family, I have decided to move to safer place till the polls end  .” He added during the past few months, “We have seen worst  attack from Pakistan side, wherein rangers resorted to mortar bombs and heavy firing, besides infiltration .”

He expressed fear that the visit of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in the region might trigger some violence. “It is for sure that Pakistan will disturb the environment, no matter if they only shoot aerial fire,” he added.

A 40 year-old farmer in Arnia town, Bacchittar Singh said that they are already living under the fear of guns, ‘as Pakistan fires anytime arbitrarily’.

“The series of attacks in Kashmir valley has vindicated that Pakistan can further try to daunt the ongoing election process,” he said and added that to avoid being a prey to their bullets, he along with his family is moving to some safer place.

“It is risky to stay in the village during election time, despite knowing that Pakistan can perhaps do all sorts of mischief to disturb the poll process," he said.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Samba-Mubarak Singh said that though there was no such panic and fear in the district, but for safety concerns the administration has tightened the security across the region .

“We are working in close coordination with the security forces. Additional force has been deployed in the areas close borders to avoid any untoward incident, wherein officials as well as local populace are instructed to report police about any suspicious movement around,” he said.

However, SSP Jammu- Uttam Chand said that he has no information regarding migration of border residents. He said, “I have received no information regarding migration of any border resident, although we have beefed up the security arrangements in the wake of ongoing elections, besides extra deployment is put into place on the visit of Prime Minister.”