Ceasefire violation: Government rushes to provide relief to border residents

JAMMU: The government has launched a rescue operation to ensure the safety of the border residents following spurt in the incidents of cross border firing from the Pakistani side along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Soon after Pakistani side resorted to cross border firing violating the ceasefire, senior district administration officials of Kathua district rushed to the villages on the international border along the Hiranagar sector to take stock of the damages.

"The officers including the Deputy Commissioner Kathua, SSP Kathua and other senior officers visited the forward border posts and villages along international border in Hiranagar sector," a senior Kathua district official said.

He said that the officers assessed situation in Londi, Sherpur, Lachhipura, Pahadpur, Bobiyan, Pansar and frontier areas of border villages and interacted with locals.

They also visited BSF posts along the border and assessed the security situation.

The official said the Deputy Commissioner assured the villagers about safety and security apart from providing all basic amenities at relief camps in case of migration was required to be done in wake of cross border firing.

The visiting officials informed the villagers about the already notified relief camps and nodal officers for various villages, he said, adding that the administration cautioned has them to stay indoors during night hours and be vigilant.

"The villagers were assured about security arrangements kept in place and night patrolling being done. Bulletproof bunkers have also been stationed along the border," he said.

Apart from taking proactive security and safety measures the district administration has also notified 35 relief camps in Hiranagar, Marheen and other areas for safe shifting of border residents in wake of border firing.