JAMMU: Former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today expressed solidarity with the border dwellersalong the IB and LoC, who are under the 'line of fire' in the wake of the series of ceasefire violations.
Abdullah, president of the main opposition National Conference called for an immediate end to shelling from across the border.
"The border residents are finding themselves to be in a helpless situation with economic activities coming to a grinding halt and schooling of children also taken a jolt. There is insecurity looming large due to shelling," he saidwhile addressing party workers at Chak Lal Din in Raipur Domana constituency.
He reiterated that the terrified border dwellers werebraving the situation with fortitude, notwithstanding human loss and freezing of normal activity.
The NC leader conveyed his condolences to all those families who lost their dear ones in the shelling for the past many weeks.
Three persons were killed and 17 others injured when Pakistani Rangers violated the ceasefire twice and heavily shelled civilian areas and border posts along the IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district yesterday.
There have been 55 violations of the border ceasefire agreement by Pakistan in August and over 245 ceasefire violations during the year so far.
"The suffering people deserve compassion, immediate assistance and above all timely help in terms of medical care, besides safe shelters during the exigencies," Abdullah said.
The leader, who arrived in the winter capital on a two day visit, asked the people to maintain unity and alienate the divisive forces attempting to fragment the cohesive society on religious and regional lines.
"Guard against them who are coming in different guisesin order to break your unity and commitment to peacefulco-existence.
"They can incite passions but not our will to live together as a single entity", he said.
The National Conference President said his party is committed to protect the interests of the people of Jammu,Kashmir and Ladakh, as it is the only political entity havingits presence in every nook and corner of the state.
"We have always kept the interests of common people aboveeverything and for this National Conference has offerednumerous sacrifices from time to time," Abdullah said.
He added that Jammu and Kashmir has to survive and flourish as a single entity and anybody or any political entity thinking in terms of weakening it will meet stiff public resistance.