‘If India Doesn’t Retaliate..’ Say Locals As They Clean Bunkers Amid Rising Tensions In Jammu And Kashmir
The border areas of Jammu and Kashmir remain on high alert following a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, prompting residents along the Line of Control (LoC) to take precautionary measures. Villagers in border areas, particularly near Pakistani military posts, have begun cleaning and preparing their underground bunkers as fears of further escalation rise.
In the village of Trewan, located in the border area of Arina, a local resident shared, "The government has provided us with bunkers. Earlier, when there was firing, we used to take shelter in these bunkers. We are saddened by the Pahalgam incident, and we stand with our army and administration. This is a border region, so incidents of firing used to happen here earlier. We have cleaned our bunkers and are ready to take shelter in them if needed."
The recent terror attack has prompted renewed vigilance across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in its border areas. In these regions, where peace had prevailed for some time, the bunkers had fallen into disuse. However, the present circumstances have led to a resurgence in bunker preparation. Villagers have resumed the cleaning and stocking of these bunkers, which had been an essential shelter during previous periods of cross-border shelling.
One resident mentioned to ABP News, "We had forgotten about the bunkers, but now they are being cleaned again. There is an atmosphere of fear, but we hope that peace will prevail in the valley." Another local resident added, "We are with the government, we stand by them. We strongly condemn the terror attack, and we support our army and administration. We are ready to offer any support, even lay down our lives, whenever they need us."
"If India doesn't retaliate, it will be shameful for us," said a local, expressing anger over the Pahalgam attack. They emphasized that living near the border, any situation would affect them first, and they want to be fully prepared.
"We don't want to tie the government's hands," locals said, insisting that the government need not worry about the safety of border residents. They expressed strong support for the army and condemned any ideas that would demoralize the forces, calling for decisive action against the terrorists. "We used to take shelter in these bunkers during firing incidents in this area, as our village is close to the LoC. We are cleaning these bunkers so that we can move our families to safety during such incidents. We are thankful to the central government for providing these bunkers," said a villager to ABP.
Many of these bunkers, colloquially known as "Modi bunkers" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, were constructed during times of intense cross-border firing. Now, due to the current tensions, residents are refurbishing these shelters that had not been in active use for years. In a notable development, the security forces destroyed the house of Shahid Ahmed, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, in Shopian. Ahmed, who had been active since 2023, had been a target of the security forces.
Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in both civilian and security personnel casualties, the security situation along the border has become even more critical. Intelligence agencies have compiled a list of 14 local terrorists believed to be aiding foreign terrorists from Pakistan. These individuals, aged between 20 and 40 years, are linked to three major Pakistan-backed terror groups: Hizbul Mujahideen, LeT, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
These operatives are reportedly active in regions like Anantnag and Pulwama in South Kashmir. The identified local terrorists have been helping foreign terrorists by providing logistical and on-ground support. Authorities are also investigating possible connections between these operatives and the five terrorists responsible for the attack on a group of 26 tourists in the picturesque Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam on April 22.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other security agencies are working alongside Jammu and Kashmir Police to investigate the attack. The Pakistan-based terror group TRF, a proxy of LeT, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Amidst these heightened security concerns, local residents remain hopeful for peace but are preparing for the worst. As one villager summed up, "Anything could happen at any time, and we are prepared for any situation."
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