NOWSHERA : The relief camps set up in Rajouri district are swelling with people, who are forced to leave their homes in border villages due to heavy shelling from Pakistani army.
Although Pakistani guns have been silent since Sunday morning, a palpable tension coupled with an uneasy calm continued to prevail in the camps.
“There has been no fresh fire along the LoC since Sunday morning but the number of villagers in various camps has swelled to 1,537,” Rajouri deputy commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told Hindustan Times.
The repeated ceasefire violations from Pakistan have forced authorities to evacuate people living in forward villages. So far, two people have died in the firing from across the border and 10 have been injured. Farmers have suffered damage to their crops while 45 houses have also been harmed in the heavy shelling.
“Our cattle are lying unattended back home. Wheat crop has been badly affected and we have been reduced to refugees again. For those, who advocate war to settle scores with Pakistan, tell them to spend a day at the LoC,” said Kalsian village resident Banarasi Lal, who is now forced to stay at a relief camp .
Local BJP MLA Ravinder Raina likened the prevailing circumstances to a war-like situation. “Pakistan is targeting our civilians, but we must appreciate our army, which has been giving a befitting reply to the enemy,” he said and added that India could not afford to remain a mute spectator to Pakistan’s ceasefire violations.