Srinagar: National Conference, Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party and Jammu & Kashmir Peoples’ Conference in their separate statements condemned the killing on borders in Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla districts.
In it’s statement National Conference while expressing grief and sorrow over the unfortunate killings on LoC Party’s senior leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Nazir Gurezi, Sajjad Uri, Qaiser Jamsheeed Lone, Qafilul Rehman said that whenever borders are lit up and tensions soar between the two countries it is the people living along LoC, borders who bear the brunt. In a joint statement they said, “It is the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially those living on both sides of the LOC or international border who have to face the brunt of skirmishes between the two countries. It’s really saddening to witness innocent lives being devoured like this. We express solidarity with the bereaved families of civilians and soldiers and call upon both countries to immediately stop cross border shelling. The persistent lighting up of borders has made the lives of people no less than a hell.”The leaders sought immediate cessation of skirmishes on borders. “People living along borders are fighting a battle of life and death. We therefore call for immediate cessation of shelling on the borders. We also urge the government to provide effective health care to the injured,” they said.
In a similar statement the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir on Friday expressed deep concern over the loss of lives in border skirmishes and called for a cessation of hostilities along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.Mir said that thousands of families who live in border areas are in a pitiable condition because of the continuous ceasefire violations. “The loss of around six precious lives including four civilians and three army men in cross border shelling in Uri, Dawar, Keran and Nowgam areas is highly condemnable. The heavy shelling has caused panic in the villages of Balkote and other border areas in Kashmir valley,” Mir remarked. He said that this situation is not in the interests of people. Mir appealed to the leadership of the country to ensure that the people of the border areas of J&K live in peace and tranquility. “The ceasefire violations, whatever the causes, risk the prosperity and security of both the countries that have far more commonalities than the areas of suspicion and discard,” Mir opined. He said that the incidents of skirmishes and hostilities from across the border derail the efforts leading towards the formation of better understanding and amity between the two neighbouring countries which directly impacts the lives of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Mir reiterated his Party’s demand for speedy construction of concrete bunkers for the inhabitants of forward areas across Jammu and Kashmir. “The government of India needs to focus on the completion of bunkers in order to ensure the safety and security of its citizens living in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. Offering condolence on behalf of Apni Party, Mir expressed solidarity with the bereaved families of soldiers and innocent civilians killed due to shelling and wished early recovery of those who sustained injuries due to cross border shelling.
In yet another similar statement the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (PC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone strongly condemned the killing at the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir and Poonch in shelling. Sajad, who is spokesperson of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an alliance of about six mainstream political parties fighting for restoration of Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir, said there are no words enough to condemned this modern day barbarism. He hoped that administration of the day will provide relief to the affected families. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter Sajad said “ Shelling yet again claims innocent lives in Uri,Tangdar and Poonch. No words r enough to condemn this modern day barbarism. Hope the administration of the day provides relief to the affected families. My prayers with the hapless inhabitants of these areas. May sanity prevail.”Two Army soldiers and a BSF officer and three civilians were killed and several others were injured besides scores of houses were damaged in Pak shelling since this morning in Uri in Baramulla and Tangdhar in Kupwara and Poonch in Jammu region.
