Srinagar, May 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the recent shelling by Pakistan along the border created a war-like situation in the J&K, with Poonch district suffering the most.
He assured the public that it is now safe to return home, as a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan is currently holding.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Poonch and Surankote, Omar said that almost 80 to 90 percent of Poonch town had been evacuated when the shelling began. “Now that the firing has stopped, people should consider returning to their homes,” he said.
Describing the past few days as extremely tense, Omar said this was the first time such heavy shelling had taken place inside towns. “Poonch was hit the hardest. Thirteen people lost their lives in the firing,” he said. “My main purpose in coming here was to reach the homes where these losses occurred.”
He praised the people of Poonch for standing united in the face of danger and maintaining communal harmony. “Even in such tough times, the people here upheld the bond between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs,” he added.
When asked if religious places were targeted during the attacks, Omar said that while places of worship were not deliberately hit, nearby areas including those close to temples, madrassas, dargahs, and gurudwaras were affected due to the random nature of the shelling.
He said that some helpful suggestions were given by the local civil society to avoid such high casualties in the future. “We are planning to act on those suggestions and make the region more prepared if such incidents occur again,” he added.
On Pakistan’s intentions behind the attack, Omar said he cannot comment on that with certainty. “I don’t have a magic wand to read their minds. I can only speak on the basis of what’s happening on the ground,” he said.
He added that the ceasefire has now been in place for over 24 hours and appears to be holding.
Responding to the propaganda being spread by Pakistan, Omar said that although they may continue to spread false information, the actual situation is clear to everyone. “You know the truth, I know the truth, and the world knows it,” he added.
The Chief Minister directed district administrations in all affected areas including Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora to set up assessment teams.
Omar said these teams will evaluate damage to structures caused by shelling and submit reports so compensation can be given accordingly. “Until now, our focus was on saving lives. But now that the situation is calm, our attention has shifted to damage assessment and relief work,” he said.
Omar also denied reports that government officers had abandoned their duties during the shelling. “Not a single Deputy Commissioner left their station. Some media outlets are spreading these baseless rumours, which is very unfortunate.”
Omar said that there is the need to construct bunkers in vulnerable areas and said that future preparedness would be a key priority for his administration.
Chief Minister was accompanied by cabinet minister Javed Rana, Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Aijaz Jan, and his sons Zamir and Zahir. During the visit, he met with affected families and listened to the concerns of the civil society in the area.
