'80-90 Per Cent Of Poonch Vacant': Jammu-Kashmir CM Abdullah Urges Return Of Locals As India-Pakistan Tensions Ease

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (12 May) said that the situation along the border is beginning to stabilise after days of intense shelling from Pakistan, which had created what he described as a “war-like situation” in parts of the region, especially Poonch.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to the affected areas, Abdullah urged displaced residents to begin returning to their homes, assuring them that military-level communication between India and Pakistan had helped bring about a pause in hostilities.

“They (border residents) should now try to return to their homes. 80 to 90 per cent of Poonch town is vacant. They had left their homes when shelling was taking place. Now that the shelling has stopped, they can return to their homes,” the CM was quoted as saying by TNIE.

The cross-border escalation, which had gripped the region in recent days, saw heavy bombardment in civilian areas. “For the last three-four days, there was a kind of war-like atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. Among all the areas that faced the brunt of the cross-border shelling, Poonch was the worst affected,” Abdullah stated.

Abdullah said that the district administrations in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora had been asked to assess structural damages and prepare compensation reports.

“Our priority so far has been saving lives, but now that the ceasefire is in place, assessments will begin and relief will follow. As per the proforma, we will give compensation,” he added.

Rejecting reports that senior officials abandoned their posts during the crisis, Abdullah said, “Not a single DC (deputy commissioner) left his station. These rumours being spread by some in the media are unfortunate and untrue.”