rajnath

AMN / NEW DELHI

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed expeditious construction of bunkers along the International Border and Line of Control to protect the border residents in view of the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Mr Singh ordered this while reviewing the progress work of Department of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs at a high level meeting in New Delhi yesterday. A total of 1,252 ceasefire violations by Pakistan occurred so far during the current year.

According to an official release, the Home Ministry has approved 415 crore rupees for construction of more than 14,000 bunkers in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. The work on construction of 1,431 community and more than 13,000 individual bunkers will commence from next month.

The Home Minister also expressed satisfaction that there has been a significant drop in stone-pelting incidents since the government announced Suspension of Operations during the Ramzan.

Mr Singh directed to expedite the raising of two New Border Battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police. He said the recruitment should be completed by March next year and the Ministry has approved 105 crore rupees.