Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah calls for end of cross border shelling

JAMMU: Former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today expressed solidarity with the border dwellers along the IB and LoC, who are under the 'line of fire' in the wake of the series of ceasefire violations.

Abdullah, president of the main opposition National Conference called for an immediate end to shelling from across the border.

"The border residents are finding themselves to be in a helpless situation with economic activities coming to a grinding halt and schooling of children also taken a jolt. There is insecurity looming large due to shelling," he said while addressing party workers at Chak Lal Din in Raipur Domana constituency.

He reiterated that the terrified border dwellers were braving the situation with fortitude, notwithstanding human loss and freezing of normal activity.

The NC leader conveyed his condolences to all those families who lost their dear ones in the shelling for the past many weeks.

Three persons were killed and 17 others injured when Pakistani Rangers violated the ceasefire twice and heavily shelled civilian areas and border posts along the IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district yesterday.

There have been 55 violations of the border ceasefire agreement by Pakistan in August and over 245 ceasefire violations during the year so far.