During an intervention in the Lok Sabha discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’, Member of Parliament from Poonch, Mian Altaf Ahmad, voiced concern over the suffering of civilians affected by the recent escalation between India and Pakistan. He called for justice for the victims living in areas close to the Line of Control (LoC).
Altaf, who represents the constituency where the Pahalgam terror attack occurred, spoke about the deep sorrow and grief among locals following the loss of 26 civilian lives in the incident.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir came out spontaneously to condemn the attack, with many so grief-stricken they were unable to eat or sleep for days.
The Member of Parliament also drew attention to the hardships faced by his constituency during the recent exchange of fire between India and Pakistan.
He said cross-border shelling caused significant damage in both Poonch and Rajouri districts, resulting in the deaths of 17 civilians, including children and the elderly.
Recalling the scale of devastation, Altaf said that even though Poonch had witnessed earlier conflicts, the current situation was unprecedented—forcing people to flee and turning the town into a virtual ghost town.
In Rajouri, he added, three more civilians were killed, including a government official who had been assisting locals during the operation.
Altaf said places of worship, homes, and businesses were damaged in the shelling and emphasized that such tragedies must not be repeated.
He urged the government to offer enhanced compensation to affected families.
He also raised the case of Pervez, a Gujjar youth who was killed in police firing, demanding a fair investigation and justice for his family.
Altaf warned that a lack of accountability could erode public trust in the administration.
He appealed to the Home Minister to release innocent civilians detained during and after the operation, and called for better emergency infrastructure in border areas, including ambulances and bunkers.
Lastly, he requested the extension of railway connectivity from Jammu and Srinagar to Rajouri and Poonch, stating it would help integrate these remote border towns more closely with the rest of the country.
