Omar vows relief for families hit by shelling

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited Tangdhar in Kupwara district to assess the situation on the ground and interact with residents affected by recent cross-border shelling.

Touring several villages in the Karnah border sub-division, including Hajinard, Nachiyan, Shamspora, Baghbela, Batpora and Tarboni, Omar reviewed damage to property and listened to the concerns of locals. Talking to the media, he said there was significant property damage, but fortunately no loss of life. “We will complete the damage assessment today or tomorrow. After that, the government will provide necessary compensation,” he stated.

Omar said: "Everyone wants the ceasefire to be permanent. Only the anchors of some TV channels, who sit very far from here, in Noida, Bombay, those people do not like the ceasefire. The people who live near the border, the people who live near the LOC, the people who have seen the situation in Jammu and Srinagar this time, they want a ceasefire.”

Responding to a question about safety infrastructure, Omar said locals have been demanding individual bunkers.

“Community bunkers were made…new bunkers have not been made for many years. Here, wherever I went, local people said we should make individual bunkers. For this, the government will adopt a policy,” he said.

He said the government will come up with a new scheme for bunkers and the government will also talk to the central government. Officials said during the visit, the CM toured various villages in the Karnah border sub-division, including Tangdhar, Hajinard, Nachiyan, Shamspora, Baghbela, Batpora and Tarboni.

The CM took stock of the damage to residential structures and listened to the grievances of residents.