Centre Sanctions 400 Bunkers For Residents in Poonch, Rajouri Amid Continued Violation of Ceasefire by Pakistan Along LoC Following ‘Pre-emptive’ Strikes

The central government has reportedly sanctioned additional 400 bunkers for residents in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir with 200 additional bunkers for each district.

Srinagar: The central government has reportedly sanctioned additional 400 bunkers for residents in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir with 200 additional bunkers for each district. The decision comes in the wake of escalating tension between India and Pakistan and incidents of heightened cross-border shelling.

As per the prescribed specifications, the construction of the bunkers will be completed in a month’s duration. The government has directed the concerned officials to ensure speedy construction of these bunkers. The funds for bunkers will be given to the District Collectors through the Rural Development Department.

Poonch and Rajouri have been witnessing border skirmishes which intensified after India’s ‘pre-emptive’ strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) terror camps at Balakot in Pakistan on Tuesday.

On Saturday, Pakistani troops again violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, prompting strong and effective retaliation by the Indian Army. While on Friday, a young woman and her two children were killed and several others, including two Army personnel, were injured in heavy shelling along the LoC in lower Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch.

As a precautionary measure, all educational institutions within five kilometer radius of the LoC remained closed for the fifth day on Saturday and all health institutions have been instructed to remain open and working round-the-clock to meet any eventuality.

During the last one week, the Pakistan Army has violated the ceasefire for over 60 times by targeting over 70 civilian and forward areas along the LoC in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and Baramulla districts of the state, leaving nine persons, including some Army personnel, injured.

Tension between India and Pakistan escalated after Pulwama terror attack in south Kashmir, in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed in a suicide attack carried out by JeM terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar on February 14. To avenge it, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday targeted three Jaish camps in Balakot, Pakistan resulting in killing of over 300 militants.