*Says underground bunkers to be increased beyond 90,000 to protect LoC residents; Hands over appointment letters to NOKs of slain victims; No talks with Pakistan until it ends with support for terrorism; Development in J&K will continue uninterrupted*
Poonch, May 30: Announcing a special relief package for LOC residents hit by recent Pakistan shelling, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that besides adding to the existing 90,000 underground bunkers, additional steps will be taken to strengthen the safety and support of border communities.
Addressing a gathering in this frontier town after distributing appointment letters to the family members of victims killed in Pakistan shelling,
The, Union Home Minister, according to the news agency Kashmir News Observer, said the administration is currently assessing the damage in affected areas, including Poonch, and that the Central Government will provide all possible support to the victims’ families.
He said that while no compensation or government job can truly make up for the loss these families have suffered, the initiative reflects the solidarity and support of the Jammu and Kashmir administration, the Centre, and the people of India.
He also stated that 90,000 bunkers have been built along the LoC and more will be constructed to protect civilians.
Shah said that the Indian Army had carried out "Operation Sindoor," during which terrorist infrastructure across the border was targeted and destroyed. He said that the operation was aimed only at terrorist camps and not against civilians or security personnel in Pakistan.
In response, Shah said, Pakistan carried out shelling that hit civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, including religious sites.
He added that the Indian Armed Forces later destroyed nine airbases in Pakistan, after which Pakistan requested a ceasefire. "India will not tolerate any terrorist activity on its soil," Shah said.
Shah said the administration, including the Lieutenant Governor and local officials, responded quickly by moving people from affected areas to safer locations and providing necessary assistance.
According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that there can be no talks with Pakistan until it stops supporting terrorism.
"Terror and trade cannot go together, and blood and water cannot flow together. This is our policy, and we will fight every terrorist activity on our soil," he said.
Referring to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Shah said the way the people of Jammu and Kashmir stood united against terrorism sent a strong message that such acts will not be tolerated.
He also said that development work in the region would continue as it has since 2014, and security forces would carry on with their operations against terrorism. "Development in Kashmir is ongoing and will continue in the same way, no one can stop it. Kashmir will keep progressing while security forces will continue to eliminate every terrorist as they have been doing," he added—
