Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 6: Expressing shock over shelling on civilians in Arnia belt, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that deliberately targeting civilian areas is the latest design of Pakistan and seems to be aimed at creating fear all along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan has been violating cease-fire along the Line of Control and International Border off and on but this time they crossed all the limits by specifically targeting the civilian areas”, he said while interacting with the media-persons after meeting the civilians injured in the shelling at the Government Medical College and Hospital this afternoon.
Stating that there was no reason to violate the ceasefire yesterday, he said, “it was a deliberate attempt from the Pakistani side to target the civilian areas and the death and injury to so many innocent people is a part of their latest nefarious design”.
“Such a large scale loss to the civilians clearly indicates that they have changed their strategy from engaging in cross-firing with the forces on this side of border to specifically targeting the civilian areas”, he further said, adding “this stand should be condemned by one and all in the strongest possible words”.
Mr Omar said that at a time when people of Jammu and Kashmir should be getting Eid greetings from the Pakistan side, they (Pakistani troops) have gifted our people with bombs and this is all the more shocking.
In response to a question, Chief Minister said, “either we are unable to understand Pakistan’s motive behind the increase in ceasefire violations or the internal situation in Pakistan is so bad that by targeting Indian side they want to divert the attention of their own people from their internal turmoil”.
“The Pakistani leadership has nothing else to speak about the Kashmir. Whenever they go abroad, they try to raise only Kashmir issue but every time they miserable fail to get the international attention”, Mr Omar said, adding “since Pakistani leadership failed to get any response from the USA recently, it has started targeting civilians out of the frustration”.
When asked whether he has discussed the targeting of civilians by Pakistan with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, he said, “so far I have not spoken to the Prime Minister but if the need arises I will certainly brief him about the situation in the State following the frequent ceasefire violations”.
About the rehabilitation of people affected by the cross-border firing, Chief Minister said, “we have taken up the issue with the Union Government as our financial condition doesn’t allow us to carry out rehabilitation of our people”, adding “we want help from the Centre and it should come forward to help the people”.
“Ceasefire violations are being imposed on us… we are not at fault. Our people are being targeted intentionally as such Union Government must come forward to help the cross-border firing affected people”, Mr Omar further said.
When asked whether Indo-Pakistan relations have come to the lowest ebb following targeting of civilians, he said that the relations had gone to lowest ebb when Pakistan sponsored terrorists targeted Parliament and carried out blasts in Mumbai. “But such an unfortunate act on the part of neighbouring country is really unwarranted and leaves impact on the relations”, he added.
Chief Minister announced that the family members of the people who lost their lives would get exgratia payment. “The ex-gratia cheques have been signed and will be given soon”, he said, adding “the next of the kin of the deceased would also be given Government jobs as per the rule applicable under death in harness cases”, he added.
Earlier, during his visit to hospital, Chief Minister met the civilians injured in the shelling and enquired about their health. He directed the hospital administration to provide all sorts of medical treatment to the injured.
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