Post Pahalgam attack, gate on Khusropur village road closed

In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, the gate on the Khusropur village road has been closed by the Army, drawing the residents' ire. The road leads to Jalandhar Cantt.

Residents of Khusropur along with other neighbouring villages today held a dharna outside the Khusropur barrier, protesting against the closure of the village’s lifeline. The road leading to Jalandhar Cantonment has been closed since May 1.

While the road is the village’s main link with the cantonment, residents said it was closed a few days ago in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, causing inconvenience to residents. While the village of Khusropur itself has a sizeable population of ex-servicemen, many fought the 1965 and 71 wars, they said they couldn’t even reach the military hospital in case of an emergency due to the road’s closure.

The residents have also written to the GOC 11 Corps, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, and Union Minister of Defence Rajanath Singh, seeking their intervention on the issue.

In the protest, apart from Khusropur, residents of Aladinpur, Bambianwal, Atar Singh Colony, Kehar Singh Colony, Sainik Vihar and other adjoining areas also joined in. Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh also reached the spot to lend solidarity to the residents.

In their letter to the GOCs and the Home Minister, the residents stated that this is the only road which leads to the military hospital and other military establishments, required by the ex-servicemen. They said the entry to Jalandhar Cantt has never been blocked even in 1965 and 1971 wars and even during the Operation Blue Star.

Khusropur resident, Colonel Gurdeeep Bhullar (retd.) said, “We’ve always been using this road but after the Pahalgam attack, the gate has been closed. We are left without alternatives and many children from this area go to Army Public School and Kendriya Vidyalayas which are at a walking distance. Now, we have to traverse through kucha tracks and cross 3-4 km to Sansarpur just to bring our wards back from the schools. Ex-servicemen have to go to military hospital at night – in an emergency - which they are not permitting now. I’ve served the Army for 33 years. It is perplexing - is this gate the only threat? Other similar gates at Deep Nagar and Garha are open.”

Col Bhullar said the MLA Pargat Singh also took up the issue telephonically with Corps Commander, GOC, and assurance was given that the issue would be resolved soon.