Jammu: The State Government on Monday said that dialogue and reconciliation was the only way to restore peace along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir and in the mainland.
“Our stand is that dialogue and reconciliation is the only way to restore peace,” Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri told the House while responding to the concern expressed by the Legislators over the loss of lives and damage to the property due to recurrent incidents of cross-border firing in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri and other parts of the State.
Veeri said the process of reconciliation initiated by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee in 2003 needs be taken forward for everlasting peace in the State.
Referring to the latest incidents of cross-border firing in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri, the Minister said that the respective district administrations are taking all possible measures to avoid loss of life and property. He said alternate arrangements for boarding and lodging have also been put in place for the affected population.
Giving details of the latest incidents of cross-border firing, the Minister said that four Army personnel including an officer were killed while two civilians and three soldiers including a BSF Personal were injured in fresh ceasefire violation along LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts on Sunday.
The Minister said that in Rajouri at about 2130 hours on Sunday, Pakistan Army started indiscriminate firing in Balakote Sector resulting in the killing of 04 Army personnel namely, Captain Kapil Kundu of Ransika, Gurgaon, Rifleman Ram Avtar of Baraka, Gawalior, Rifleman Subham Singh of Mukandpur, Kathua and Hawaldar Roshan Lal of Samba died on the spot, while one Army Jawan namely Lans Naik Iqbal Ahmed sustained injuries.
He said in another ceasefire violation in Bandi Chacian Sector one Army Jawan namely Sepoy Kishore Kumar and two civilians including a minor namely Yaseen Arif and a girl namely Gulnaz Akhter sustained injuries.
Veeri further informed that ceasefire violation was also reported from Sunderbani where one BSF soldier namely ASI Ajab Singh sustained injuries. He was immediately shifted to Army Hospital, Satwari for treatment. He said firing was also reported from Bhawani and Lam sector but no loss of life was reported.
He said firing from both the sides stopped on the same day at about 1945 hours.
Earlier several members from opposition and treasury benches expressed concern over the loss of lives on border and urged the state and central government to take concrete measures to ensure peace in the state besides ensuring safety of civilians living near the border.
Leader of Opposition in the House, Omar Abdullah called for a resolution to be adopted by the Assembly urging that the people of Jammu and Kashmir demand both the governments to initiate the dialogue process so that peace is restored along the borders and within the mainland.
