The people living along the Line of Control (LoC) in villages across Rajouri and Poonch districts have pinned down their hopes on 2019 to bring along peace to the twin border districts, where loss of life and injuries in cross-border firing and shelling have become the new norm.
While talking to Greater Kashmir, Sunil Kumar, a resident of Nowshera, said, “Kalal, Kalsian, Lam and Jhanger areas in Nowshera sector remained peaceful for almost a decade. 2016 brought change by bringing along cross-border firing. The ensuing years have been full of incidents along the LoC.”
Claiming that Kalal and Lam in Nowshera sector remained the worst affected areas in terms of cross-border firing, Kumar said that many army soldiers as well as civilians lost their lives in these areas in 2018.
Mohammad Zakir, a resident of Tarkundi, said, “We remained tensed throughout the year, mainly during March to May, as cross-border firing happened almost every other day. Although there was no loss of life in our area in 2018, but chaos prevailed. I hope 2019 brings along peace.”
Mohammad Javed, a resident of Balakote, said, “2018 was not any different from the previous years for the local populace. A number of civilians and army personnel lost their lives. Besides, property worth lakhs was damaged.”
“Jhulas, Shahpur and Kirni in poonch district suffered the most in 2018. Almost twice or thrice every week, guns roared along the LoC. Even Poonch town came under firing. This was a first. 2018 was not a good year for us,” Munish Kumar, a resident of Poonch, said.