Villagers flee as Pak rains mortars

Sanjay Pathak & Amir Karim Tantray

Kathua/Jammu, January 19

As Pakistan continues to rain bullets and mortar shells, people of over 22 villages residing along the International Border (IB) in the Hiranagar sector have started migrating to safer places with little or no help from the administration.

Over 15,000 people in 22 villages fall in the range of Pakistani guns, but the administration has deputed only three bullet-proof vehicles to evacuate border residents who have described it as “a cruel joke” with them.

During heavy firing by Pakistan today, residents of Bobiya, Pansar, Paharpur, Patti Neru and Manyari border hamlets in the Hiranagar sector spent over five hours in panic due to lack of coordination among various district administration agencies, including the police.

Villagers were seen fleeing to safer areas with their families. A specially abled woman of Pansar village was spotted fleeing on a wheelchair along with her children.

The International Border from Paharpur to Londi in Hiranagar has seen numerous incidents of cross-border firing but the administration has been relying on only three bullet-proof vehicles to evacuate people.

“Recently, we put forth our demand of more bullet-proof vehicles when the Deputy Commissioner was touring border areas,” said Bharat Bushan, a former sarpanch of Bobiya village.

He said that in absence of bullet-proof vehicles, people had no option but to risk their lives and move to safer places on their own.

“Nine people of Pansar village received injuries in Pakistan firing around 9 am today, but the administration sent a bullet-proof vehicle at 2 pm to evacuate the injured. It seems that for the government, the lives of border villagers do not matter,” said Nishant Sharma, a border villager.

The continuous firing by Pakistan has paralysed the normal life in the border villages and people are moving to safer places.

Locals said the ailing, old and children were facing more difficulties due to firing and cold weather.

The Pakistan Rangers also fired on civilian areas at Ranbir Singh Pura area in Jammu district, keeping people on tenterhooks. The BSF, however, gave them a befitting reply. As the intensity of firing and shelling increased this morning, people were seen fleeing their homes for safer places.

“It is not wise to wait and get killed by a shell. Nobody wants to leave their home, but in these circumstances, saving life becomes a priority,” said Janak Raj, a resident of Arnia town along the International Border.

The Arnia and Ranbir Singh Pura sectors of Jammu district, Ramgarh and Samba sectors of Samba district and the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district have been witnessing heavy shelling from Pakistan since Friday morning.

Heavy shelling  

• The Arnia and Ranbir Singh Pura sectors of Jammu district, Ramgarh and Samba sectors of Samba district and the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district have been witnessing heavy shelling since Friday morning 
• As the intensity of firing and shelling increased, people were seen fleeing their homes for safer places. Several houses have been damaged in shelling
• Residents of Bobiya, Pansar, Paharpur, Patti Neru and Manyari border hamlets in the Hiranagar sector spent over five hours in panic due to lack of coordination among various district administration agencies