100 bunkers completed along LoC

With ceasefire violations from Pakistan on the rise, the Jammu and Kashmir government has completed a pilot project for the construction of over 100 family-type bunkers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district for the safety of border residents.
 
"A total of 102 family-type bunkers have been completed in various villages along the LoC. Each bunker has the capacity to accommodate 10  people on a  long-term basis while 12 to 16 people for short-term shelter in wake of the ceasefire violations,"  Deputy Commissioner (Rajouri) Shahid Iqbal said.

He said the technical design of the bunker withstands the kind of weaponry frequently used in ceasefire violations.

"In view of the success of the pilot project, more such bunkers are to be constructed as per sanctions of Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, which will provide greater safety for the border inhabitants,"  Iqbal said.

He said this will include more than 5,000 family-type bunkers and 370 community bunkers.

In May 2017, more than 4,500 people had migrated to relief camps established by authorities in Nowshera town due to ceasefire violations, which left more than 170 houses damaged and eight civilians dead.  

The LoC runs through a 120-km long stretch in the district across 72 villages in six tehsils.

Nearly 22 villages are easy targets for shelling.

The  Centre had, earlier this year, sanctioned the construction of 14,460 community and individual bunkers along the LoC and the International Border (IB) for border residents facing Pakistani shelling in the state.

While 7,298 bunkers will be constructed along the LoC in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri, 7,162 underground bunkers will be constructed along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts, officials said.
 
Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed Parliament recently that Pakistan has violated ceasefire along the LoC and the IB 633 times in just two months this year.

According to official figures, in 2017, the ceasefire was violated by Pakistan along the LoC 860 times and 111 times along the IB.

The highest number of such violations took place in 2002, when 8,376 incidents were reported, while 2,045 incidents of ceasefire violations were reported in 2003.

The Indian and Pakistani armies had agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC, the IB and along Actual Ground Position Line at Siachen glacier in November 2003.

Although it held good for 10 years, in the last few years, Pakistani troops have been violating the ceasefire agreement with greater frequency.