Faced with another piquant situation more than 15,000 families living all along the borders of Jammu division are uprooted from their hearths for no fault of theirs. The constant ceasefire violations by Pakistan all along the International Border and Line of Control is nothing new but the intensity and the spread covering almost 192-km long IB is something which baffles. Prelude to ceasefire violations, two improvised explosive detonators (IED) blasts took place on 4th October in Poonch sector deep into the Indian territory especially where the security forces patrol and claimed the lives of one jawan and another injured. This cemented the theory that either the elements are supported by Pakistan or the sympathisers within the border areas are active and is working towards some big plans. And after that, the nine days of heavy firing and mortar shelling from across the border began, which de-escalated only on Friday along the IB in Jammu frontier. During these nine days the one crib one could hear from the firing affected villagers was Pakistan did not even allow us to celebrate Eid in peace. Killing people on Eid is inhuman, this most of them retorted with anger. Most of the people have decided not to return to their villages which lie close to the Pakistan along the border in R S Pura sector of Jammu district, till shelling ends completely. Many of the houses in Mahasha-de-Kotey, Pindi, Kaku-de-Kotey and Channa village were hit by the bullets and splinters of mortar bombs, which tore roof tops and walls of several houses besides breaking windows and doors. Most of the hamlets in the division are famous for its Basmati crop and at this time of the year the crop is closing in for its final harvest. With uncertainty prevailing in the area the worst affected would be the agriculture-linked economy besides the human tragedy which has already taken place. Government may allot them alternative sites for residential purposes but will it compensate for the crop damages or will the firing affected would get their due share of relief as the flood affected people of Kashmir region is to be seen.
