GoI India should take the entire nation into confidence about the situation in the Mendhar-Surankot area of sensitive Poonch sector,” Ankur Sharma, President IkkJutt Jammu Party raised this issue immediately after the conclusion of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. “We have waited in vain for the Union Home Minister to apprise the nation about the situation in Poonch while he was in J&K. It is sad he has dealt the issue as if it were a minor terrorist pin prick,” Mr. Sharma stated.
Ankur Sharma said that the happenings in Poonch cannot be taken lightly. “Security forces have suffered heavy casualties; it’s 17th day into operations and still nobody knows what type of security challenges exist in the area. The said area is 10 to 15 K.Ms away from LoC inside the Indian Territory meaning whatever the number of people who have intruded inside are conducting a Fidayeen Operation. Is it a Fidayeen Foothold inside the Indian Territory? Let the Govt also clarify if the terrorists are foreign or local. Every second day we are assured that the operation will be over in a few days but the fact that it has entered into its 17th day raises many questions. The Govt is apparently trying to treat an issue involving National Security through political manoeuvres.
It appears as if a strategically critical area of dense Nar Khas forests at Bata Dhurian continues to be in possession of foreign terrorist intruders. Poonch city is just 35-40 kms from the area, 120 Brigade Headquarters are just 5-8 kms from the area, and continued presence of enemy intruders in this area has the potential of endangering strategically crucial roads namely Bhimbar Gali Road, Dera Ki Gali Road, Krishna Ghati Road & Mughal Road. The dangers to Poonch city in such a situation cannot be underestimated,” Mr. Sharma explained the nature of security challenges in the area in great detail.
That the latest terrorist movement in the area was discovered almost two and a half months given the fact that their first engagement with the security forces happened in the first week of August, 2021 followed by successive operations. Ankur Sharma further said that the Chief of the Defence Staff Sh. Bipin Rawat visited the area but didn’t comment on the situation while Chief of the Army is still tight lipped. “We know it very well that Pak PM Imran Khan while addressing the UN General Assembly virtually threatened a war with India in case situation in Jammu and Kashmir does not change to their liking,” Ankur explained and said that escalation of threats in Jammu and Kashmir should not have surprised any body.
Ankur Sharma expressed concern about the challenges to the security and survival of minorities namely Hindus and Sikhs in the Poonch area. “ The minorities are at present terrified and apprehend unleashing of a religious cleansing operations against them just like it happened in Kashmir and parts of Jammu Province against Hindus/Sikhs in the 1990s,” President IkkJutt Jammu warned that delay, dithering or hiding the gravity of situation may prove costly for the nation.
Present along with President were Ashwani Sharma, Harish Kapoor, Vikram Zharma, Ajay Singh, Manik Jamwal, Virender Abrol, Mukesh Gupta, Ajay Sharma, Rajinder Singh Jaiswal.
