Protests over border firing, civilian casualties

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 24

Protests were witnessed in various parts of Jammu region over the border firing and civilian casualties in Pakistan shelling.

Protesters slammed the Centre and the BJP for “betraying and exploiting the border residents” for their political gains.

Led by Harsh Dev Singh, chairman of the Panthers Party, Young Panthers, party activists staged a protest and burned the effigy of the BJP. They expressed shock over the loss of lives and property in mortar shelling and firing by Pakistan on the forward villages along the International Border in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts.

Angry protesters slammed the Central and state governments for their alleged “apathy and gross failure” to provide five-marla plots to the border residentsin safer zones.

“We strongly condemn Pakistan for pounding the forward villages along the IB with heavy shelling and firing. The firing and shelling has thrown life out of gear. The border residents are living in a horrifying atmosphere and the BJP-partnered state government has paid no heed to their plight,” said Harsh Dev.

In Kathua, Congress workers, led by former minister Manohar Lal, staged a protest at Dogra Chowk, Hiranagar, against the civilian killings on the border. The Congress workers accused the Centre of failing on all fronts. They burnt an effigy of the Union Government, demanding permanent solution to the miseries of the border dwellers.

“The Central government should revisit its present policy of dealing with Pakistan so that the miseries of border dwellers are lessened,” Sharma said while addressing the protesters.

Provincial president, Youth National Conference, Jammu, Ajaz Jan led a cycle march in Jammu city to protest against the continuing rise in petrol and diesel prices and the killing of border residents. He was joined by senior party leaders, including National Conference’s provincial president Devender Singh Rana.