The aftermath of the attack on a CRPF convoy by a suicide bomber at Lethpora area of Pulwama has been frightening for the majority of the Kashmiris in Jammu, many of whom described the past 24 hours as scary
On Friday, nearly 30 vehicles were burnt and more than 50 damaged by mobs during a strike called by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Bar Association against Thursday’s attack on CRPF at Pulwama, in which about 40 soldiers were killed.
Currently, thousands of Kashmiri government employees and their families are staying there as part of the annual Durbar Move. There are Kashmiri students and traders as well in Jammu.
Describing the atmosphere in the Jammu, Shazia, a housewife, said, “We have been spending winters here for the past 15 years. All these years have been peaceful, but yesterday I was certain that we would be attacked by mobs that were torching vehicles.”
“I have two little kids at home, five and six, and I had nothing to cook for them. If any of us had ventured out to buy stuff we could have been beaten. Since yesterday we had cookies and some leftover food. There is nothing in the house to cook,” she said.
Many Kashmiri have taken refuge at a spacious mosque in Bhathndi area of the city, which has a Muslim majority population.
A Kashmiri who lives in Bhatandi said, “People evacuated from various hotels and residential quarters were brought to Makkah Masjid and a community kitchen was set up for them. Over 5000 people would be here.”