Srinagar, May 13: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra has urged the Prime Minister to immediately announce a special comprehensive package for the relief and rehabilitation of people affected by cross-border shelling in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
During his extensive tour of Poonch district, Karra strongly condemned Pakistan for targeting civilian areas in Poonch, Rajouri, and other border regions. He expressed deep grief and solidarity with the families of those martyred or injured and acknowledged the widespread damage to livestock and property.
Karra was accompanied by Working President Raman Bhalla, Ex-Chairman JKLC Jahangir Mir, AICC Secretaries Shah Nawaz Chaudhary and Neeraj Kundan, Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, MLA Iftikhar Ahmed, DCC President Poonch S. Rajinder Singh Kaka, IYC Secretary Ayaz Chaudhary, Mir Iqbal (Ex-BDC), Ajay Lakhotra (NSUI President), Bharat Priye (Kisan Cell Chairman), Arif Qazmi (PYC Vice President), and others.
The delegation visited Baila in the Mandi area and offered condolences to the family of Islamic scholar Qari Mohammad Iqbal, who was martyred in the shelling. They also paid respects to another civilian victim in Bandichechian.
Karra condemned a section of the national media for falsely labelling a martyr as a terrorist. He called it a grave injustice, urging legal action against those responsible for spreading misinformation, which has caused immense anguish to the grieving family and damaged the deceased’s reputation.
The team also visited Chajjla and Dungas near Christ School, where two children were martyred and buried due to shelling. They interacted with the affected families and assessed the damages.
Earlier in the day, the leaders paid visits to Shri Budda Amarnath Temple, Dera Nangali Sahib, Bagyala Masjid Zia-ul-Uloom, Gita Bhawan, Gurudwara Singh Sabha Mohalla, and the house of martyr Surjan Singh. They also visited local hospitals to enquire about the injured.
The local population appealed for immediate compensation for the loss of lives, homes, crops, livestock, and infrastructure.
Raman Bhalla emphasized that Poonch is among the worst-affected areas in the country due to cross-border hostilities. He demanded a special central package from the Prime Minister, including recruitment drives for border youth in paramilitary forces and the construction of additional community and individual bunkers for safety.
Karra reiterated that Poonch had suffered the highest toll, yet the Prime Minister, in his recent speech, did not even mention the district. He called for an all-party meeting and a special session of Parliament to discuss the developments — from the Pahalgam incident to the ceasefire reportedly brokered by a third country.
He urged the central government to ensure transparency regarding the terms of the ceasefire and to announce substantial relief and rehabilitation measures for the affected population. Karra also reiterated the demand for granting martyr status to all civilians who lost their lives in the recent shelling.
The delegation concluded their tour with visits to Mankote and Mendhar, offering condolences to more bereaved families. (KINS)
