Search the Internet           Tips

J&K border shelling forces
thousands to migrate

Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmad Lone stated in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly Friday that 18,582 families, comprising 83,804 persons, migrated from border areas to safer places since May, 1999, when shelling and firing on the border started.

At present 11,044 families, comprising 43,510 persons, continue to be displaced from villages in Jammu.

The issue regarding problems of displaced people in border areas in Jammu, due to artillery exchanges, was raised in the House and the Speaker wanted the minister to make a statement on this.

Lone told the House that 2625 families that have migrated have been provided tents at safe locations, while others have made their own arrangements. He said additional tents were being procured. The minister said that Rs 22.20 crore had been provided as relief, to displaced families in border areas in Jammu division.

This, he said, included an assistance of Rs 11.92 crore, free ration costing Rs 6.68 crore, 920 kilo litres of free kerosene costing Rs.67,000, 2625 tents costing Rs 1.84 crore and other facilities like public utilities, water facility and electricity.

Lone said that in view of incessant firing and shelling from across the line of control, at the international border, migration from affected villages in Leh and Kargil districts, Jammu and other parts of the state, two relief packages were sanctioned for Jammu, valley and Ladakh.

The minister said that the packages, for which funds have been released by the central government by debit, to the national defence fund, was valid up to October 2000. He said that further extension of the fund beyond October was under consideration as many families continue to be displaced and cultivation of land near the international border was difficult.

He said that since May 1999, 12 persons have lost their lives due to shelling and 37 were wounded.

Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah told the assembly that Jammu and Kashmir would bleed till India and Pakistan turned friends.

The chief minister said, ''We are fighting a major war'', and added, ''this House calls upon Pakistan to stop bleeding us and let peace prevail in the region.''

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report