Shift ammunition depots from civilian areas in Kashmir: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Aug 12 (UNI) After demanding reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has said all ammunition depots should be shifted from civilian areas.

Presence of huge ammunition depots in these areas risked the life of common people and yesterday's incident at Khundroo reiterated such dangers.

Immediately on her arrival from New Delhi this morning, Ms Mufti rushed to the affected villages in and around Khundroo to take a stock of the situation there.

During her visit to the area, Ms Mufti visited around a dozen worst affected villages marooned after yesterday's massive fire in the army's ammunition depot.

Ms Mufti said this was the second time after 1965 that a massive fire broke out in Khundroo ammunition depot putting the lives and property of the people in the surrounding areas at great risk and causing immense panic.

Scores of unexploded shells were still lying in the civilian areas posing a threat to the lives of the people,she observed and added that instead of taking short-term fire-fighting measures, the Defense Ministry must take steps to relocate such massive, scale ammunition depots away from the civilian areas.

Ms Mufti said she would raise the issue in the ongoing session of the Parliament to impress upon the Defense Ministry the urgency of shifting the ammunition depots from the populated areas.

''I am sure the Government of India would seriously consider shifting of such ammunition depots from the civilian areas to ensure the safety of the people,'' she said.

Asking the State Government to ensure the safety of property and goods left behind by the fleeing people, Ms Mufti said during her visit to the area several families complained about their household goods being stolen in their absence.

''The police must ensure the safety of the property and other household items of the villagers,'' she said, adding that the district administration should ensure that the villages in and around the camp were cleared of all the unexploded shells before allowing the people in.

Ms Mufti also visited the family of a fire-fighter at Telwani who died while fighting the flames.

The PDP has been demanding reduction of troops engaged in counter insurgency operations in the state.

UNI