Border dwellers threaten to encroach ministers'' houses

BISHNAH: Enraged over the “casual approach” being adopted by the successive state governments to ensure their security, border dwellers on Sunday threatened to encroach on palatial official bungalows of ministers and legislators to “make them realise how it feels to be displaced amid scorching heat”.

A nomad inspects his damaged hut after shelling by Pakistan in RS Pura. Tribune file Photo

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Bishnah, May 27

Enraged over the “casual approach” being adopted by the successive state governments to ensure their security, border dwellers on Sunday threatened to encroach on palatial official bungalows of ministers and legislators to “make them realise how it feels to be displaced amid scorching heat”.

Border inhabitants have also warned mass migration with their cattle and belongings from their respective villages to Jammu to “awake the ruling elites from deep slumber”.

“Our patience is running out. Killing of innocent civilians and extensive damage to property has become a routine affair on the border. Except tall promises, nothing concrete has been done to protect us,” rued Raghubir Singh, sarpanch of Changia panchayat that has witnessed unprecedented loss of lives and property in the last four years.

All villages falling under this panchayat are experiencing bloodshed. “It has become a custom for politicians to visit our areas after every bloodshed and make tall promises. However, after their return, the assurances remain on paper,” he said.

Border inhabitants of Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts have decided to form a coordination committee to intensify their struggle for getting their demands fulfilled. The Border Union of Kathua and the Border Sangharsh Samiti of Jammu have already announced to jointly launch an agitation to expose the “inhumane” approach of the ruling elites.

“It is very difficult for children to be in the relief camps set up by the authorities. We will not hesitate to forcible capture official bungalows of ministers and legislators to protect our kids from scorching heat,” Singh said.

During a meeting, the Border Sangharsh Samiti members devised a strategy to start mass migration to Jammu with their cattle and belongings. “Palatial bungalows where ministers and legislators live are public properties, so there is nothing wrong in shifting there,” said Raghunandan Sharma, a resident of Arnia.

Echoing sentiments, Bharat Bhushan, Babiya sarpanch and vice-president of the Border Union, Kathua, said ministers should voluntarily vacate their palatial bungalows to provide shelter to the shelling-hit families. “Being public representatives, ministers and legislators are duty bound to protect people at the time of crises,” he said.