Jammu-Kashmir: 27 Villages Along LoC Prepare to Move Out at Short Notice

As many as 27 villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir have been asked to prepare to move out on short notice.

New Delhi: Twenty seven villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district have reportedly been asked to prepare to vacate their homes at short notice, after cross-border shelling this week.

This comes in the backdrop of people in villages in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) along the LoC being asked to remain alert amidst mounting India-Pakistan tension.

Officials from the district administration visited villages in the Nowshera and Sunderbani sector on Friday and inspected the construction of bunkers and assured that people are safe here.

J&K: District administration officials visited villages in Nowshera & Sunderbani sector,near LoC in Rajouri dist, y’day. DDC Rajouri Md A Asad said that we’re overseeing construction of bunkers. SSP Rajouri, Yougal Manhas said that wanted to assure people that they are safe here. pic.twitter.com/RuBVeSN8Er

— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2019

The LoC has been tense since the dastardly Pulwama terror attack on February 14, where 40 security personnel were martyred after a explosive-laden SUV rammed a CRPF vehicle. Subsequently, the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) took responsibility for the strike.

According to a Hindustan Times report, villagers have been asked to carry only essential items and household belongings to temporary shelters. “Mortar shells and machine-gun fire started a day before. It wasn’t too heavy, just intermittent. We haven’t had casualties yet,” said Ramesh Choudhry, the sarpanch of Kalal, a village that hugs the LoC.

On the other hand, PoK officials have issued an advisory for its LoC residents, advising they avoid using unnecessary lights during night time and refrain from unnecessary travel near the LoC routes.