Crisis management groups have been set up along the Indo-Pak border for evacuation of people affected by shelling and firing by Pakistan and to ensure all facilities for them at shelter camps, a top police official said today.
"Border Security Force (BSF) is doing a commendable job. They are responding to Pak firings adequately and effectively," IGP (Jammu Zone) Rajesh Kumar told reporters here today.
"They are responding as per the situation, but the matter of concern for us is the targeting of civilian areas. But our endeavour is to protect them, ensure their evacuation and facilities for them in the camps," he said.
"Crisis management groups have been activated in the borderline from Poonch to Kathua district," the IGP said, adding that one each group will be deployed in all these places along the border to first carry out evacuation of people and then provide food and shelter to them.
"All civilian departments, besides police, are part of these groups which undertake evacuation in emergency situations," he said.
As many as 36 camps have been put in place for the people evacuated from the border areas, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu Shantu Manu said, adding that 7,000 people are putting up in these camps at present.
Camp and security officers have been deployed along with teams of various departments to provide people with all facilities, including water, food, power and security, he said.
The IGP said, "As per the need, security set up has been put in place for the camps as well as villages. For people who do not intent to leave their homes, bunker-type bullet proof vehicles have been put in place for them."
The Divisional Commissioner appealed to people to pay full attention to the advisories issued by authorities.
"We had educated people about their safety in various border areas and the people in border areas of Hiranagar and Samba left their homes, and the result of this was that major damage was averted even when Pakistani troops intentionally shelled in Kathua and Samba districts last night," the IGP said.
Eight people have been killed and 75 people injured in Pak shelling and firing along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu region, the Divisional Commissioner said.
Apart from that, 52 animals have been killed and 153 are injured, he said.
