500 LoC residents migrate in Kashmir as Pak promises peace along IB in Jammu

Hours after flag meeting, Pak shells Nowshera, house damaged

JAMMU: Around 500 people were forced to abandon their homes and migrate on Friday following the targeting of civilian facilities by the Pakistani Army near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in Kashmir Valley, even as the Pakistan committed to maintain peace and tranquility along the International Border in a flag meeting held today in Jammu.
If that was not enough to reveal the dirty games the enemy nation plays, the Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked shelling and firing at defence and civilian facilities in Lam and Jhanger area of Nowshera in Rajouri sector, hours later in the evening.
As many as 500 residents of villages close to the Line of control (LoC) in the Uri sector migrated to safer place on Friday following the firing and shelling by Pakistani troops in the area over past four days.
“Due to firing, shelling from across the border areas of Uri about 500 people migrated to safer areas,” said Director General of Police S P Vaid.
The residents of Silikote, Balkote, Tilawari, Churanda and Batgarh started fleeing their villages early this morning in view of the ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops at regular intervals since Monday, the officials said.
They said the fleeing border residents have been put up at makeshift camp established in the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Uri town. "The district administration is registering the migrants and providing basic facilities to them," the officials said.
Earlier on Monday, the residents of Thajal and Soni had also been moved to safer locations by police in view of the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
The Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire in the Uri sector on Monday and then repeated it on Wednesday and Thursday.
In Jammu, however, the BSF and Pakistan Rangers today held a flag meeting along the International Border (IB) here during which the border guards of the two countries expressed their commitment to maintain peace and tranquility along the IB.
"A sector commander-level flag meeting was held between BSF and Pakistan Rangers on the International Border (IB) in Suchetgarh area of Jammu district today," BSF's official spokesperson, Jammu, Manoj Yadav said.
The BSF delegation comprising nine officers was led by P S Dhiman, DIG BSF Jammu Sector.
Brig Amjad Hussain, Sector Commander, Sialkot, Punjab led the Pakistan delegation which comprised of 11 officers.
While reiterating the BSF's commitment towards maintaining peace and tranquility on the International Border, BSF officials sought Pakistan Rangers' cooperation for the same, which was agreed to by them, the officer said.
"The meeting concluded in a cordial atmosphere," he said. However, barely hours after the meeting concluded, the Pakistan showed its true colors once again as it violated the ceasefire along LoC, this time in Jammu region.
According to security sources, the Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked shelling and firing at defence and civilian facilities in Lam and Jhanger area of Nowshera of Rajouri district on Friday evening.

"A civilian house got damaged in Pakistan shelling. Fortunately, there was no casualty," said a source, adding that Indian positions are retaliating "effectively and strongly".

Meanwhile, the displaced LoC residents in Uri demanded that the government should ensure an end to the ceasefire violations or rehabilitate them at safer places where they can live without fear.

"We would like the governments of India and Pakistan to put an end to ceasefire violations as it has made our lives difficult. In case shelling and firing on the borders continues, the state government should provide us five marla plots in safer places so that we can live in peace," Ghulam Mohammad Mir, who is putting up at the makeshift migrant camp, said.