Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: Several political parties today condemned Pakistan shelling in civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district in which three civilians were killed and one another injured, late last evening.
Condemning Pak shelling, National Conference (NC) expressed deep grief and anguish over the killing of a prominent party worker, his wife and teenage son in village Karmara in Poonch district. “At a time when the entire world is grappling with the pandemic of coronavirus, Pakistan Army is indulging in ceasefire violations along the LoC in J&K and inhuman targeting of civilians”, senior NC leaders said in a statement issued from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this morning.
The statement described the unabated and unprovoked shelling from across the LoC as highly deplorable, saying targeting old, women and children is not only uncivilized and inhuman but barbaric as well. They prayed for peace to the noble souls of the shelling victims Mohammed Rafiq, a prominent NC worker of Poonch, his wife Rafia Bi and their 15 year old son Irfan. They also wished speedy recovery to the injured in the shelling.
Besides Provincial president Devender Singh Rana, those who condemned the killings include Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Rattan Lal Gupta, Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Kashmira Singh, Rachpal Singh, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Javed Ahmed Rana, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Ajaz Jan, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Babu Rampaul, Abdul Gani Malik, Dr Chaman Lal Bhagat, Qazi Jalal Ud Din, Brij Mohan Sharma, Tarlochan Singh Wazir, Jagjeevan Lal, Jugal Mahajan, Gurdeep Singh Sasan, Bashir Ahmed Wani, Choudhry Liaqat, Surinder Singh Bunty, Rahim Daad, Haji Mohd Hussain, Master Noor Hussain, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Mohd Iqbal Bhat, Bimla Luthra, Satwant Kour Dogra, Deepender Kour, Swarn Lata, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Pradeep Bali, Vijay Lakshmi Dutta, Anil Dhar, Bushan Lal Bhat, Wali Dad, Chander Mohan Sharma, Dr Gagan Bhagat, Rakesh Singh Raka, Rita Gupta Sajjad Shaheen, Israr Khan, Vijay Lochan, Abdul Gani Teli, Ch Haroon, Som Nath Khajuria, Yashivinder Singh and others.
Condemning Pakistan strongly, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) expressed deep shock over the martyrdom of three civilians and injuries to another person in the Pakistan’s shelling in Poonch sector late last evening and asked the Modi Government to take results oriented measures to check Pakistan’s increased mischief and misadventures against India.
JKPCC chief G A Mir and senior Congress leaders expressed deep shock over the casualties of civilians and expressed deep sympathies with the families, relatives besides solidarity with the suffering border residents. “Everytime it is claimed that a befitting response is being given to the Pakistan but the rising number of ceasefire violations and martyrdom of our jawans and civilians is intolerable,” they added.
Senior leaders to the statement include former MP Madan Lal Sharma, former Deputy CM Tara Chand, former Ministers and vice presidents PCC Mula Ram and Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma and DCC presidents Poonch and Rajouri, Choudhary Abdul Gani and Shabir Ahmed Khan.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) also strongly condemned killing of three innocent civilians and injuries to others in Pakistan shelling in Poonch. In a statement, senior JKAP leaders including former Minister Aijaz Ahmed Khan, former Minister Manjit Singh, former Minister Choudhary Zulfikar Ali, senior leader Vikram Malhotra, ex-MLA Choudhary Qamar, ex-MLC Vijay Bakaya, senior leader Namrata Sharma, senior youth leader Raqeeq Ahmed Khan and others expressed their sympathies with the families of the deceased civilians.
The JKAP leaders prayed to God for the peace of the departed soul and courage to the family members of the deceased persons. They demanded a compensation of Rs 30 lakh for the family members of the victim who have lost their loved ones in unprovoked shelling from across the LoC. They further demanded construction of concrete bunkers in the vulnerable areas to avoid further loss of lives of the people.
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