The three-day-long gun-battle between forces and militantsin this small hamlet in northern Handwara area has left behind a trail ofdestruction.
Local residents told Greater Kashmir Sunday that they wouldnever forget these three days as “every day was no less than a doomsday forus”.
“We have never witnessed such a fierce gun-battle, where theentire area shook with countless blasts and brought pain and agony to manyfamilies,” they said, recollecting what they called “the horrific time” sinceThursday midnight when forces cordoned off the area following “specificinformation” about presence of militants.
“We haven’t slept since Thursday night when forces sealedall entry and exit points to the area,” said Muhammad Asif, a local resident.
“With every blast, we lost hope of our survival,” he said.
As the gun-battle was over on Sunday afternoon, thousands ofpeople—apart from affected families whose shelters were razed to the groundwith explosives—rushed to the area.
Seeing their homes flattened, the families started wailingto see their destroyed dwellings.
Several families, according to the police, had beenevacuated from the area. “I rushed tosee if my house is intact, but I was shell-shocked when I saw it razed to theground,” said Raja Begum.
The families rummaged through the mounds of debris to see ifthey can retrieve anything in order.
There were only scattered bricks, broken window panes andsome kitchen items that most of the affected families could lay their hands on.A relative of Fayaz Ahmad Shah, whose house was completely damaged in theencounter, said: “They have lost everything. We don’t know where they will goin this harsh winter. How will they survive?” Amid chaos and confusion atthe encounter site, people were seen consoling the affected families.
As the dusk approached, locals started to prepare food forthe affected families.