Countering Indian aggression: Civil defence teams formed in Rawalakot

Lawyers in Chakothi protest atrocities in IoK

MUZAFFARABAD: As Indian forces continued cross-border firing along the Line of Control on Tuesday, the district authorities in Rawalakot have decided to form local committees to protect the people in case of any misadventure from the Indian side.

Rawalakot district administration, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has formed Civil Defence Committees (CDCs) in the area to carry out awareness campaigns in order to educate people living near the LoC about safety measures they can take in the event of Indian cross-border aggression.



Members of these CDCs will also apprise  the people as what should be  done  in the event of an actual incursion by Indian troops.

“We [have] formed CDCs in 53 villages of Rawalakot close to the LoC and divided them in four circles,” said Deputy Commissioner Rawalakot Chaudhry Altaf while talking to The Express Tribune.

He added that these committees will comprise retired army officials, villagers and employees of AJK  Civil Defence Department.

Apart from carrying out awareness campaigns, DC Altaf said that the CDCs will help people move to safe places and shelters during any ceasefire violation by Indian forces on the LoC. They will also help shift injured people, women and children from border areas to safe locations.

Lawyers march to LoC in Chakoti

Hundreds of lawyers in the border town of Chakothi marched towards the  Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday to express solidarity with people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The march was organised by Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and included lawyers from all districts of AJK. They were joined by members of civil society and local traders.

Supreme Court Bar Association President,  Hazoor Imam Kazmi,  said that a similar march had been organised in Srinagar by lawyers of IOK, led by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association’s President Mian Abdul Qayoom.

Kazmi added that people in IOK were under curfew for weeks, while dozens of youngsters have been killed by Indian security forces but the international community was still silent.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2016.