Asem Mohiuddin
Look at these pictures in the article. These moving pictures are completing the story of tragedies the residents in border areas of Kashmir are facing on daily basis. Their life is always on edge and future uncertain.
Their fault; they are caught between the two nuclear powers- India and Pakistan. They bear the brunt of their hostilities.
Abdul Gani Sheikh of Balkote is the latest example of how India Pakistan skirmishes are destroying their lives and proprieties.
He lost his home, money, cattle and everything after a massive shell struck to his house fired by Pakistan army on November 13. Now he lives in his brother’s house along with his dumb wife and children.
“I had built a house out of my life time earnings. I had also saved some money for my funeral. But in a blink of an eye I lost everything after shell struck to my house and turned it into a rubble,” Abdul Gani shrieks.
Nothing is left behind for Gani now and at the age of 70 he is preparing to rebuild his life. But as of now he is preparing to brace up for the upcoming chilly winter.
“At this age I have to start my life fresh now. I have to build a new house, buy furnishing, cloths and edible items for my family,” he says. “I am not sure if I can do it now since my age is not on my side”.
Despite facing huge losses, no one from the administration turned up to these affected families in nearly a dozen villages of Uri sector.
Abdul Gani, however, is still a fortunate man unlike his neighbour Bashir Ahmad Dar. Dar lost his wife Fauriqa Bano after a shell struck to the roof of his house.
Bano was lifting charcoal into the balcony of her house where she died after a mortar shell struck to her. Due to intense shelling from both sides, the family of Bano told The Legitimate that they were unable to retrieve her body from the balcony for nearly 4 hours.
“The more painful was when we could not give her dignified funeral. Fewer people attended her last prayers (Nimaz e Jinaza). As we were trying to lower her into the grave again the shelling started and people left her body there,” says Shaista, Daughter of Bano.
“It was only after intense struggle of few hours Bano’s body was buried.” Back home there is continuous mourning since Bano left behind 5 young children grieving including 18 months old Aliza.
“When I returned from school, I saw my family members weeping and mourning. Someone told me that my mother has died in Pakistan shelling,” recalls Asrar Ahmad, class 7th student. “I had no idea what to do and how to react to this massive tragedy,” he weeps.
“Ever since Aliza lost her mother, she is crying. Her other siblings are also shell-shocked and continuously inquiring about the whereabouts of their mother,” says Nephew of Bano who is taking care of these orphans.
On November 13, India and Pakistan exchanged heavy firing alongside the Line of Control in Pir Panjal sector that continued through Kamalkote, Nowgam, Tanghdar and Gurez sectors. Five army men were killed in Pakistan firing and four civilians also lost their lives, all in Uri sector.
“It was unprovoked firing from Pakistan that was responded with heavy force by our troops,” Spokesman Srinagar based 15 Corps Rajesh Kalia told media later. “An ammunition depot was destroyed on the other side of LoC, several army men of Pakistan were also killed in the response.”
Locals claim that in last several years the shelling on November 13 was intense and they feared the war broke out between India and Pakistan.
Even after a week, the locals do not venture out of their homes freely since there have been no formal talks between India and Pakistan to defuse the tensions. Uri in the recent times have been frequently used by militants as infiltration route.
Construction of Bunkers
When India and Pakistan declared ceasefire on Line of Control in 2003 and agreed to stop cross border infiltration, hundreds of families who had migrated to safer areas returned to their abandoned homes. They resumed their lives fresh and again began to cultivate crops on their lands. The tranquillity was prevailing on the borders.
However, since last few years, the borders have yet again turned hot and frequent ceasefire violations are reported triggering huge panic among the people. PTI reported that 3589 incidents of ceasefire violations were reported from Pakistan along LoC till October this year. The violations are believed highest in last several years.
“The underground bunkers built for the civilians have got damaged in 2005 earthquake. They have not been repaired or rebuilt by the authorities. We were taking refugee inside the bunkers during shelling,” said Muzaffar Ahmad a local resident. “We urge authorities to rebuild our bunkers so that during cross border shelling we can save our lives”.
