Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 6: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today ordered constitution of a high-level 5-member Committee comprising officers from Ministry of Home Affairs and Jammu and Kashmir Government to study problems of border people on Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in the State to help Centre as well as State Governments take immediate steps to minimize their problems in the wake of heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistan.
Sources told the Excelsior that a decision to constitute the high-level team was taken after Rajnath Singh, who had visited Nowshera sector of Rajouri district during his 4-day J&K tour from September 9 to 12, listened to the plight of border migrants, who had shifted to Nowshera town in the wake of Pakistan shelling. Later, more people had to desert their homes from Arnia, Ramgarh and RS Pura sectors on the IB following shelling and firing, though they had returned after few days.
Sources said the Home Ministry had asked the team to study problems faced by the people living on LoC and IB including their peace time as well as shelling time requirement and steps the Centre and State Governments can take for safety and security of the border dwellers, who become victims of shelling as they had to migrate repeatedly, which seriously affect their livelihood as well as studies of the children.
Rina Mitra, Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs, will head the Committee, which will have four members including Principal Secretary (Home), Jammu and Kashmir, RK Goyal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan and Joint Secretary (J&K) in MHA, Gyanesh Kumar, who will act as Member Secretary.
The Panel will examine demand of border dwellers for land for relocation, construction of bunkers and compensation issues. The MHA had recently given nod to construction of bunkers.
“The Committee has been asked to visit forward villages on LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir, inter-act with the administration and border dwellers, assess people’s problems and requirements and report to the MHA within two months,’’ sources said, adding that the Home Ministry would initiate process to mitigate problems of the border people after receiving recommendations of the high-level Panel.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, who is one of the members of the Committee, today visited forward villages in Poonch, which have been worst hit by shelling from Pakistan side and inter-acted with the administration and people. He said authorities were making all possible arrangements to ensure safety and security of the people living in the border areas.
Sources said the Committee has been asked to suggest the steps which the Centre and State Governments can take to minimize sufferings of the border dwellers as there seems to be no lessening of tensions between India and Pakistan due to which border people in many areas had to frequently migrate, which seriously affect their livelihood as they are not able to cultivate their crops, feed their cattle and studies of the children are also badly hit.
A large number of cattle have also been killed and injured in the shelling. Apart from this, houses, cattle shed and other structures of the people have also suffered extensive to partial damage. Besides, civilians have regularly been suffering both fatal and non-fatal casualties. Administration had to close educational institutions quite often in the areas falling within shelling and firing ranges, which seriously affect studies of the children. Sometimes, the Government schools in safer zones had to be closed down to accommodate the border migrants, which affect studies of the other students too.
Sources said the Home Ministry has asked the Committee to study entire gamut of the problems of the border migrants on LoC and IB and come out with suggestions to help Centre and State Governments develop a mechanism for helping the border dwellers for permanent solution to their problems in the wake of Pakistan shelling and firing.
During the past one month, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre have visited Jammu and Kashmir to assess security and border situation as well as problems of the people living in border areas.
A number of security personnel and civilians have been killed and injured in Pakistan’s shelling and firing. Besides, several cattle have also perished.
Meanwhile, today again Pakistan opened small arms firing and fired few mortars at Malti and Shahpur in Poonch sector.
An 18 year old youth was injured in the firing at Balnoi, Mankote while working in the fields. He has been identified as Mohammad Younis son of Mohammad Shafiq R/o Balnoi. However, police was investigating whether the boy suffered injuries in firing from across the LoC.
Late in the evening Pakistan army also fired at Baba Khori and Kalal areas of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district.
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