LEEPA (Kashmir English): The Azad Kashmir government has decided to shift the only Utility Store in Leepa Valley to Chinari, a hill station town in Hattian Bala district, drawing severe backlash from local people.
The news has raised concerns among the people of Leepa Valley ahead of Ramadan as the Utility Store was the only facility where the citizens could get essential items at a subsidy rate.
The decision to shift the store from Leepa to Chinari has sparked a wave of anger among the people.
While taking to Kashmir Digital, the residents of the area said that the government usually provides relief to the people during Ramadan, but the facility provided here is also being withdrawn, which is a complete injustice.
Locals have demanded the government review its decision and provide as much relief to the people of Leepa Valley so that they have access to affordable essential items during Ramadan.
In another development, Kashmir Digital learned that residents, living near the Line of Control (LoC), are forced to use caves as makeshift bunkers in Leepa Valley during continuous Indian shelling.
Leepa Valley is a town in Kashmir along the LoC, where one can witness the Indian and Pakistani Army taking positions for their countries. The incompetence of concerned departments has caused casualties and injuries to the local people.
The people have been compelled to stay in caves or underground bunkers to shield their lives when India carried out heavy shelling and fired at their locations. Many people have built concrete bunkers underground for protection on their own but others have found safety within the extensive mountain caves, risking their lives.
