Poonch: JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra has demanded that the Prime Minister announce a special and comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package for the population affected by cross-border shelling.
Strongly condemning Pakistan for targeting civilian populations in Poonch, Rajouri, and other areas, Shri Karra expressed grief and solidarity with the families of those martyred or injured, and acknowledged the extensive damage to livestock and properties.
Accompanied by Working President Raman Bhalla, former JKLC Chairman Jahangir Mir, AICC Secretaries Shah Nawaz Chaudhary and Neeraj Kundan, Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, MLA Iftikhar Ahmed, DCC President Poonch S. Rajinder Singh Kaka, IYC Secretary Ayaz Chaudhary, former BDC member Mir Iqbal, Kisan Cell Chairman Er Bharat Priye, PYC Vice President Arif Qazmi, and NSUI President Ajay Lakhotra, Karra undertook an extensive tour of the affected areas in Poonch district. The team met bereaved and displaced families who had suffered damage to livestock, houses, and other property.
Karra and the delegation visited Baila in the Mandi area of Poonch and offered condolences to the family of Islamic scholar Qari Mohammed Iqbal, as well as to the family of another individual martyred in shelling in Bandichechian.
Karra condemned a section of the national media for labeling one of the martyrs as a terrorist, calling it highly irresponsible and deeply hurtful to the bereaved family and society at large. He demanded appropriate legal action against those responsible, stating that such misreporting not only damages reputations but also spreads dangerous misinformation.
The team also visited Chaj Troh, where two children were buried after being martyred in Dungas, near Christ School.
Earlier in the day, Tariq Hameed Karra and other senior leaders visited Shri Budda Amarnath Temple and Dera Nangali Sahib, where they offered prayers for peace, harmony, and brotherhood.
They later visited Bagyala Masjid Zia-ul-Uloom in Poonch city, Gita Bhawan, Gurudwara Singh Sabha Mohalla, and the home of martyr Surjan Singh. The delegation also visited the hospital to inquire about the injured.
The team met with families who had lost loved ones and those who had been otherwise affected by the shelling. The affected people demanded compensation for their losses — including lives, property, crops, livestock, and homes — without further delay.
Raman Bhalla noted that Poonch district has been the worst affected in the country and called for a special central package from the Prime Minister. He also demanded a special recruitment package for youth living near the border in paramilitary forces, along with the construction of more community and individual bunkers.
Speaking to reporters, Karra again condemned Pakistan for targeting civilian areas and causing extensive damage. He expressed regret that the Prime Minister did not mention Poonch even once in his recent speech.
Karra reiterated the Congress party’s demand that the Prime Minister convene an all-party meeting and call a special session of Parliament to discuss the recent developments — from the Pahalgam carnage to the ceasefire reportedly brokered by a third country. He emphasized that the nation deserves to know the full details of the past 20 days, including the terms of the ceasefire and the relief and rehabilitation plans for the affected population.
He also justified the demand for additional community and individual bunkers, fully equipped, across different parts of the district. Karra strongly called for immediate relief and rehabilitation measures and for martyr status to be granted to those who lost their lives.
Later, the team visited Mankote and Mendhar, where they offered condolences to more bereaved families.
