J-K: Life inches back to normalcy in Kupwara as shops open

SRINAGAR(Jammu and Kashmir): After the recent understanding between India and Pakistan led to a pause in cross-border shelling, the local Reddi Chowkibal market in north Kashmir’s Kupwara reopened on Sunday after a week-long closure. Local shopkeepers and residents have appealed to the government for bunkers and compensation, citing repeated damage and risks faced during such incidents.

A shopkeeper, Naseer Ahmad said, “First of all, I thank Allah that He has dealt with this big trouble. We got rid of this big problem. It is heard that the firing has stopped.”

He added that the local market had been closed for seven days due to shelling. “People lost their lives in the night; when they heard that the firing stopped, they were very happy,” he said.

He asserted that while the market had reopened, significant damage had already been done to the shops and the surrounding infrastructure.

“Shelling has also taken place in this market of ours. There are many shopkeepers whose shops have shells, whose shops are completely damaged. You must have noticed that the shutters are broken in front, the stuff inside is completely broken,” he said.

Calling the market vital for the livelihood of the residents, Ahmad emphasised the need for safety provisions. “We have appealed to the government many times that we suffer losses here, and there is a lot of damage due to cross-border shelling. Bunkers should be given to us and give us something for our safety,” he said.

He added that most of the residents are from the middle class and lack the means to relocate during conflict. “We are middle-class people. We don’t have enough income to go from here to Srinagar or in any city to find a place to rent,” he said.

Another local shopkeeper said that the reopening of the market brought immense relief to the residents.

“Today, after about six days, our market is starting to open up a bit. We have breathed a sigh of relief,” he said.

He expressed how the shelling had forced residents to abandon their homes and relocate. “Our lives were completely useless. With this shelling, we left our homes and shifted to another place,” he said.

He said that many people, including children and patients, had suffered during the displacement. “Some patients are heart patients, some are children, some are elderly.”

He, too, urged the government to set up protective bunkers. Both shopkeepers appealed for consistent government intervention to secure their lives and livelihoods. “Today we appeal to the whole community that this happiness remains intact forever,” Ahmad said.

Meanwhile, India said on Saturday that Pakistan has violated the understanding reached between DGMOs of the two countries on stoppage of firing and military action and that the Indian Army is retaliating and dealing with the border intrusions.

At a special briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that this is a breach of the understanding arrived at on Saturday and that India takes “very serious note of these violations.”

India called upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility. (ANI)