Locals living near LoC narrate what it means to live in the shadow of Indo-Pak hostility

Hajitra (Karnah), Nov: Located amidst the sky touching snowy mountains and dense forests, the inhabitants of this fortified village have been constantly living in fear owing to heavy exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops.

The village comprises of over 300 families who are living inside the fencing raised by Indian army to thwart infiltration of militants.

The villagers say they had already suffered ‘enormous’ losses prior to 2003 when India and Pakistan declared ceasefire.

Even though people here have heaved a sigh of relief after both the countries reached an agreement and declared ceasefire in December 2003 but the residents are scared to venture out of their homes not to talk about working in the fields, where the Indian army has lodged land mines.

An NGO-EHSAS as part of their women engagement program visited the village and interacted with the locals including those who became the victims of Indo-Pak hostility. Shareefa Jan (50) lost her legs some 25 years ago due the blast of the land mine dug in the plain field of the area.

“I still remember that unfortunate day. I had gone to collect some logs of wood from the mountain. Least I knew that I will return handicapped from the place as I had no idea that Indian army lodged land mines in the area,” narrates Shareefa Jan who lost her leg in 1989.

Shareefa was rushed to Army hospital where from she was referred to Bones and Joints Hospital Srinagar for specialized treatment but she regained her consciousness after many days only to find her leg amputated.

The incident not only left the 50 year old Jan handicapped but has created a void that haunts her mind. “After the incident my husband left me as I had to cut my leg. I am struggling alone to survive and feed my son,” said Jan who is now living with her parents.

The locals here are unaware about the reason behind the confrontation between India and Pakistan. “Humei Nahi Pata Yeh Sabb Kese aur Kyun Huwa. Shayad Yeh Hamari Badqismatie Thie (We don’t know how and why it happened. May it is our bad luck as we have lost many lives in the name of this divide,” said Din Muhammad, a local resident.

Like Shareefa, Shabnam (22) lost her right eye the Indo-Pak hostility. She lost her eye in 2002 after she went to mountains with a fleet of cow.

“I was busy with animals but abruptly the troops posted on both side of the borders exchanged heavy shelling and I ran for life. While, running in haste a branch pierced into my right eye,” Shabnam said.

In a conversation with the NGO , Shabnam said she was fond of rearing cattle but least she knew the divide will cost her eyesight. “My life has remained confined to the four walls of her room I have never attended school. Since that day I have never visited the mountains. My life is ruined,” She said.

In the area, the locals prefer to get their daughters married at early age but for Shabnam, getting marriage proposals is a distant dream. “She is not getting any marriage proposals which has added miseries to her life and put his ailing father under depression,” said one of the relative of Shabnam.

Surrounded by the huge mountains, the villagers here lament the occupation of Indian army on their land, which according to them is the only source of income.

“Our agricultural lands are full of land mines. Being situated at LoC, the locals here have no access to their fields,” said Arifa Begum.

Locals here say that Indian army has lodged land mines in the area since 1971. “10 people of the area have died so far due to these land mines while as other 23 including 22 males have been left handicapped due to the explosions,” the locals said.

Handicap Shareefa to feed herself and son on the meagre sum of Rs 400 per month given by state government under social welfare fund.

Ever since they became the victims of hostility on LoC, they collect the relief from the office of Social Welfare Department located Tangdar for which they pay Rs 120 as fare to and fro.

Besides being the victims of Indo-Pak hostility residents say that they don’t even get adequate ration stock here.

“Like in other normal areas we receive 35 kilograms rice every month that too from Tangdar which is far away from this place.  There is no road connectivity in winters and we bring the rice sacks on shoulders after trekking the tough slippery terrain,” said Hakimdin a local resident.

Residing in the most backward area, locals here say they are lured by leaders and asked to vote to get the ration from CAPD department. “They lure us in pretext of giving us ration and later chock our voices by different tactics,” the locals said, adding that they have seen their political leaders only during the time of elections and later they hardly visit the place to address the public issues.