Displaced border dwellers demand land, bunkers promised by govt

RSPURA(JAMMU): Living in the constant fear of Pakistani shelling, displaced border dwellers are scared of returning to their homes and are demanding an early sanction of the “promised” piece of land in safer zones and construction of bunkers.

The demands were made by people at three relief camps set up by the state government here.

Twelve people, including five security personnel, have been killed and over 50 have been injured in the shelling by Pakistan in the districts of Jammu, Kathua and Samba along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) since last Thursday.

Last month, the Centre sanctioned the construction of 14,460 underground bunkers at a cost of ₹415.73 crore for people along the LoC and IB in Jammu.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised five marlas (1361.25 sq ft) of land to every border villager while campaigning in the state before forming a government with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

However, last year, the government informed the state legislative assembly that it had decided to construct bunkers in border districts instead of allotting land as shifting the population would not be in the interest of the state or nation.

“What we are getting is only hollow promises and unabated firing from Pakistan over the last four years. The government needs to act and provide us the promised five marlas of land away from the firing zone for our safety,” Sudesh Kumari, a resident of Beghwara Choga, said.

Kumari is among 150 border residents camping at the Indian Training Institute (ITI) complex in this sector after one of her relatives lost his life in shelling on Saturday. “Hamara Jeena Haraam Ho Gaya hai (Our life has become hell),” she said.

Another resident, Suneeta, said, “We are living a life of uncertainty with no future. During firing, we are even unable to help our children to move to safety,”.

“The lurking threat of Pakistani shelling is taking a toll on our mental health,” she added.

Making a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 75-year-old Krishna Devi from Abdullian said, “With folded hands, we want to say that we are not even safe in our homes as shells pierce the roof and walls and we should be helped on humanitarian grounds.”

Another local, Kastoori Lal, said several VVIPs including deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh and state relief and rehabilitation minister Javaid Mustafa Mir visited the camp since Saturday and assured them of help.

“How long we will stay at the camps? We want government to fulfil our demand of allotment of land at safer places and early construction of bunkers,” he said.

State health minister Bali Bhagat however, said, the government was doing its best.

“We have already issued a high alert all along the 449 km stretch from Kathua to Poonch-Rajouri, comprising both IB and LoC.We have deployed 197 ambulances and identified 25 health institutions which are very close to villages affected by the firing,” he said.

“I am of the opinion that the central government is going to take a strong measure in coming days...”