Kupwara, May 18 — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday expressed deep concern over the condition of residents in Tangdhar village, located near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, following continuous cross-border shelling.
During her visit to the area, Mufti interacted with locals who complained about the internal damage to their homes caused by shelling. “People are suffering losses. Many houses appear structurally intact from the outside but have sustained serious internal damage. Yet, revenue department officials have not properly assessed the situation,” she said.
Criticizing the existing compensation amount, Mufti called the ₹1.20 lakh aid insufficient and urged the government to increase financial assistance to affected families. “Their houses are damaged, and they don’t even want war — they want peace. What is their fault if there is a war?” she asked.
Mufti also pointed out that instead of asking for basic facilities like schools and hospitals, villagers are forced to demand individual bunkers for safety. “It is unfortunate. This is the failure of both nations. People are being pushed into a situation of fear and uncertainty,” she said.
The former chief minister further demanded that the central and state governments declare the region a war zone if banks are refusing insurance claims by citing “a time of war.” She called for a comprehensive rehabilitation and restoration package for the entire area, along with the immediate construction of individual bunkers.
“It is the responsibility of the government to ensure safety, dignity, and proper infrastructure for these residents,” she emphasized.
