Jammu, September 30: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC)—a frontline registered organisation of elected PRI members—on Thursday urged the Union Government for increasing ex-gratia in favour of victims of cross-border firing, including damage caused to their properties, along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC).
Addressing a large gathering in border area Pargwal of Akhnoor sub-division, Anil Sharma, UT President of AJKPC, said the people living along the IB and LoC are the worst affected due to frequent firing and shelling by Pakistan and they need to be compensated suitably.
“The border dwellers living along the IB and LoC from Kathua to Poonch district are the first line of defence as they have always supported the security forces, BSF and Army, while fighting against the nefarious designs of Pakistan. In the process, they suffer extensive damage to their property as well as loss of human lives. We request the Union government, particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah to rationally increase the ex-gratia amount for victims of border firing and shelling, including killed and injured persons, and loss of property and livestock,” Sharma demanded.
The AJKPC said it is high time that the government should become sensitive and sympathetic towards the miseries of border people and immediately announce an amount of Rs 25 lakh for families of killed civilians who are the victims of border firing and Rs 1 lakh for loss of every milching animal.
“The wounds of border dwellers should be healed by recognizing their sacrifices and extending suitable financial help to them,” Sharma said and demanded at least one government job to the next of kin of deceased civilians losing life in border firing.
The border people of Pargwal, during the programme, vociferously raised the issue of illegal mining in the area and said the mining mafia is being shielded and given patronage by law enforcement agencies.
During the programme, Sharma also demanded that tenants of Evacuee Property in Jammu and Kashmir should be conferred upon ownership rights without any delay.
“After the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A, the West Pakistan Refugees and other displaced persons have been granted voting rights and other facilities but the tenants of Evacuee property have not been extended any relief till date, notwithstanding several commitments by the governments over the years. We urge the Union Home Minister and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally look into the matter and pass necessary directions to the concerned authorities so that tenants are granted ownership rights to the tenants immediately,” AJKPC leader said.
The AJKPC leader also demanded that the people who have the possession of state land for several decades should be given ownership rights as they had been cultivating the land and staying there for the last many generations
