Heavy shelling on Hiranagar border

DC Kathua O P Bhagat during his tour to border belt of Hiranagar on Monday. —Excelsior/Pardeep
DC Kathua O P Bhagat during his tour to border belt of Hiranagar on Monday. —Excelsior/Pardeep

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 2: Panic gripped the border belt of Hiranagar after Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling in the area forcing the villagers to run helter -skelter for their safety.
As per reports, the Pakistani Rangers continued to target the residential areas of border villages of Londi, Chack Changa, Manyari and Chandwan in Hiranagar sector with heavy mortar shelling for past few days damaging the residential houses and inflicting injuries to animals. The people of the border belt are worried for their safety as well as the safety of their animals.
Two animals at village Londi were injured and some houses were partially damaged as Pakistani Rangers target the Londi village with heavy shelling on International Border (IB) in Hiranagar sector. Click here to watch video
The people took shelter in bunkers but animals kept in houses got inured in shelling. The border denizens are worried due to continuous firing from across and wanted an everlasting solution to their problem.
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, OP Bhagat along with a team of administration visited to Londi village and took stock of firing and losses suffered by the public. He also reviewed the construction work of bunkers in the border belt. The border residents apprised the DC about the heavy firing from Pakistani side targeting the residential areas and creating panic among the villagers including women and children.
They said the area is badly affected. They also demanded that the work on construction of bunkers be completed immediately and the electricity and toilets facilities should also be provided inside the bunkers.
The DC asked the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) to take care of injured animals by giving proper treatment to them. He has advised the SDM, Hiranagar to take care of border residents and send regular report about losses and any other problems being faced by them. The DC Kathua further asked the Rural Development Department (RDD) to complete the border bunkers and make other arrangements including electricity supply inside the bunkers.
Among others BSF Officers, BDC chairmen Karan Kumar, Ram Lal Kalia, Munipal Committee, Hiranagar president, Vijay Sharma, BJP district president, Raghunandan Singh Babloo and other villagers were present.