Panic stricken families from at least eight forward villages in Poonch have shifted to safer places. Some of them have been temporarily staying with their close relatives far away from the direct line of fire of the roaring Pakistan Army guns.
Some of the villagers who have decided to stay put are sheltering in bunkers 1-2 kms behind their existing houses to ensure their safety during
the night. According to ground reports following intense exchange of firing between the Indian and Pakistani forces along the line of Control (loC) and constant pounding of villages in Mendhar sector of Poonch, residents of Deri Dubsy, Basuni, Balakote, Sandote, lanjiote, Sona Gali, Suiyan and Parat forward villages have moved to safer places.
“At least 400 residents of Deri Dubsy are worst affected in the region,” official sources said.
The residents of Deri Dubsy were caught in the cross firing for past several days, but they could not move out as both the sides were exchanging fire even during day time. “One by one the residents took turns and moved to safer places as their village was located steps away from the loC in the Valley,” official sources said.
A senior State Government officer who visited the forward villages on Sunday told The Pioneer, “The strategic location of the Deri Dubsy village along the loC was proving to be very dangerous for the locals and majority of them have now moved to safer locations.”
As firing in the area continued throughout the day, the residents expressed concern over the loss of life of livestock. “In the absence of any veterinary doctor in the area the animals suffering from injuries were lying unattended,” the officer who visited the forward village revealed.
Though some of them, including women and children have permanently relocated to safer places but at least one member of each family is staying put in the area to look after the livestock and their houses.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch Sajad Ahmed Khan told The Pioneer that the the local residents in the forward areas have not migrated permanently.
“I have visited some areas and have seen houses that have suffered damages. It is true, livestock has been massively hit in the border villages” he said.
Senior State Government officers who visited the area on Sunday were initially prevented by the Army to move to forward areas but later were allowed at their own risk following fresh exchange of fire.
The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire on two occasions in different sectors in Poonch on Sunday. The overnight firing which started around 2 am continued till the wee hours. Then the Pak Army trained guns on the forward Indian posts in Mankote and Mendhar sector around 2.05 pm. In the evening, firing from the Pak side started around 5.30 pm in Blakote sector. The Indian troops are also learnt to have strongly retaliated and caused heavy damages to Pak posts in the sector.