Apni Party urges GoI to relocate fence on LoC in Mendhar

Srinagar, July 23: Apni Party Spokesperson and Vice President Youth Wing, Raqeeq Ahmed Khan on Tuesday urged the Government of India to relocate the fence on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar to end the day–to–day hardships being faced by the villagers while going to their respective villages established near Zero-Line ahead of the fence in Poonch district.
“These border dwellers have to face multiple problems, and restrictions while moving in and returning back to their respective villages on zero-line in Mendhar because the fence comes first and they have to complete formalities to reach their residents,” Raqeeq, who is also Media Coordinator of the party, said while addressing a press conference here in Mendhar Tehsil of Poonch.
He alleged that the authorities are not concerned about the growing problems being faced by these border dwellers, nor do the officials visit these villages to list the development-related problems of the people.
“These people are affected because of restrictions that are imposed on their movement because of the fence. Hence, it leads to problems for the women, and children who sometimes return by 5 pm or 6 pm to get back to their homes, but they are not allowed as the women cops deployed there hardly stay after 4 pm. Therefore, it is also requested to ensure the deployment of women cops of J&K Police up to 7 pm so that the women and children get through the formalities easily, and return home thereafter,” he added.
The Apni Party spokesperson said that the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of many roads in Mendhar were submitted in 2022 on priority. However, neither the tenders were floated nor the work on the approved roads has been started.
He appealed to the government to ensure the completion/repair work/construction of these roads like Maharaja Road–historic road link, Kota to Mendhar Ring Road, etc.
Rafeeq said the completion work for the construction of a sports stadium in Mendhar is still pending, and the people are concerned over the delaying tactics of the authorities.
While expressing anguish over the unscheduled power cuts, he said that the authorities must provide electricity to the people as per the billed charges. He also sought proper mobile connectivity in the border villages where the people complain that they do not have access to the mobile network once they reach their villages along the zero-line.
Rafeeq also demanded that a special recruitment drive by establishing a separate Border Battalion in J&K Police for the unemployed youth along the Line of Control villages in Mendhar should be conducted.