J&K CM Omar Abdullah orders construction of bunkers for safety of villagers at border

JAMMU: With villagers at the border bearing the brunt of firing by Pakistani troops, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has directed authorities to construct community bunkers in hamlets along the International Border in Jammu frontier.
Over 32,000 people have been forced to flee from their border homes leaving 113 hamlets deserted along the IB.
READ ALSO: Decline in border firing after weeklong violence
India and Pakistan troops traded heavy fire along the IB on the intervening night of October 7 and 8 after Pakistan Rangers shelled almost the entire IB by targeting 60 border outposts and over 130 border hamlets in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu & Kashmir, in which 15 people including 3 BSF jawans were injured.
Omar, who chaired a high-level meeting of divisional level officers over the issue of ceasefire violations on Thursday evening, directed construction of community bunkers in border areas which could be utilised by villagers in the hour of need.
READ ALSO: ​We have responded with courage to ceasefire violations, PM says
He also directed establishment of camps for cattle with arrangement for fodder and medical treatment.
Omar also visited various camps set up in Hiranagar, Samba, Bishnah and Jammu for border migrants who have been hit by the shelling from across the border.
The chief minister asked the officers to ensure medical facilities, food, drinking water, electricity etc. for the affected families.
READ ALSO: Border trouble will bring 'unaffordable costs', India tells Pakistan
Meanwhile, after nine days of heavy firing and mortar shelling from across the border, firing declined considerably along the 192km long International Border in Jammu frontier on Thursday night with Pakistan opening fire on four border out posts in Kathua district.
There was no firing along the IB in Jammu and Samba districts, but Pakitani troops tareted four Indian postsw in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district for 20 minutes.