“We Are the Forgotten Frontline”: A Humanitarian Crisis in Karnah

Preamble: A Plea from the Heart of Karnah

In the shadow of the Line of Control (LoC) in Karnah, Jammu and Kashmir, where mountains bear witness to the resilience of its people, the cross-border shelling of May 2025 has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe. Triggered by the tragic Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives, and escalated by India’s missile strikes on May 7, 2025 (Operation Sindoor), followed by Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling, the lives of innocent families including laborers, ex-servicemen, widows, and children have been shattered. The Justice and Development Front (JDF), led by President: Shameem Ahmad Thoker, General Secretary: Sayar Ahmad Reshi, and Chief Organiser: Dr. Kalimullah Lone, Youth President: Farooq Ahmad Ganie, Media Incharge: Ehsan ul Haq and District President Kupwara: Abdul Rashid Mir conducted an exhaustive visit to the affected villages like Hajinar, Tangdhar, Dildar Batpora, Tarboni, Baghbella, and Gomal on May 25, 2025. We walked through the rubble of homes, listened to the cries of children, and bore witness to a pervasive sense of abandonment. This report is a clarion call to the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Government of India, and the conscience of the nation to act swiftly and compassionately to restore dignity, safety, and hope to Karnah’s war-torn families.

Context of the Crisis

The LoC, a 740-kilometer scar dividing India and Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint for conflict, but the May 2025 shelling marks a tragic escalation. The Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, prompted India’s Operation Sindoor. Homes have been reduced to debris, livelihoods obliterated, and families left to face an uncertain future under open skies. The JDF’s visit revealed not only physical destruction but also a profound emotional toll, with residents feeling forsaken by the nation they call home. Social media posts on X(formerly Twitter) echo their anguish, with hashtags like #KarnahCries and #ForgottenFrontline trending, reflecting a groundswell of public concern. This report amplifies these voices, weaving their stories into a compelling case for immediate action.

Extent of Damage: A Landscape of Loss

The shelling has left a trail of devastation across Karnah’s villages, affecting every facet of life. Below, we detail the destruction in each area, enriched with the personal stories of those whose lives have been upended.

Hajinar Village: Dreams Buried in Rubble

Hajinar, once a vibrant community, now lies in ruins, its families grappling with loss:

• Ghulam Mohammad Lone (retired serviceman) and Mohammad Yousuf Lone (laborer) saw their shared family home ravaged when a shell struck their backyard. Windows shattered, roof sheets collapsed, and walls cracked. Ghulam Mohammad, a veteran who served India for decades, wept, “I fought for my country, but when the glass broke, my children screamed, and I had no safety to offer them. Is this the reward for my service?” Yousuf added, “We are simple people, not asking for wealth, just a home without holes and nights without fear.”

• Mohammad Maqbool, Shahrukh Gaffer, Mohammad Akbar Mir: Their homes suffered severe structural damage when a shell hit a nearby tree. Rainwater floods their rooms, rendering them uninhabitable. Shahrukh’s wife shared, “My son used to draw stars on his ceiling. Now he looks at real stars through broken roofs, shivering in wet blankets. We live like ghosts in our own home.”

• Nazir Ahmad (laborer): His brother’s house was destroyed, ruining his daughter’s wedding preparations. Bridal clothes, copper utensils, and gifts were lost in the rubble. Nazir’s daughter said, “I dreamed of my wedding day since I was a child. Now I have no dress, no joy, only fear. Nazir’s wife added, “We saved every penny for her wedding. Now we have nothing but tears and a broken home.”

• Zameer Ahmad (laborer, Nazir’s brother): His house was leveled, and the Rs 1,20,000 compensation is grossly inadequate. “I lost my home, my savings, my hope. I sleep with my children under the sky, with no rice, no pot, no roof but just despair,” he said. His wife, sobbing, added, “Our children ask why we sleep in the cold. I have no answer, only shame that I cannot protect them.”

• Mudasir Amin Sheikh (BSF employee): Stationed away, find his home’s roof obliterated. His wife and three children, miraculously unharmed, live in fear. “I serve the nation, but my family pays the price. My kids stopped speaking; they cry in their sleep,” he said.

• Rayees Ahmad Mir (driver): Grievously injured by a shell, he is bedridden and unemployed. “Not one officer, not one minister, came to ask how I was. My kids ask, ‘Will Papa ever drive again?’ I don’t have the heart to answer,” he said. His wife, tears streaming, added, “My husband bleeds in pain, and I bleed in my heart. We have no money, no job, no help.”

Main Market Tangdhar: A Hub Reduced to Ashes

The bustling market of Tangdhar, once the economic heartbeat of Karnah, now lies in ruins, with 18 shops destroyed. Shop owners face an uncertain future:

Table 1: Damaged Shops in Main Market Tangdhar

S No Shop Owner Shop Type

1 Khursheed Hussain Raina Readymade cloth shop

2 Javed Ahmad Hardware

3 Ikhlaq Ahmad Mir Shoes shop

4 Mohammad Ashraf Kiryana

5 Nissar Ahmad Mir Mobile shop

6 Mohammad Shafeeq Mughal Electronics shop

7 Mohammad Sadiq Bhat Readymade garments

8 Sheikh Sajad Crockery shop

9 Javid Iqbal Shoes shop

10 Shakeel Ahmad Garments

11 Mudasir Ahmad General store

12 Waseem Qadir Mobile repairing

13 Safeer Ahmad General store

14 Nadeem Akbar Electronics

15 Abdul Qadeer Kiryana

16 Mohammad Shafi Baba Hardware

17 Mohammad Rafi Garments

18 Ikhlaq Hussain Khawaja Mobile shop

Dildar Batpora: Homes Turned to Dust

Six families in Dildar Batpora are homeless, their lives upended:

• Rafeeq Ahmad War (ex-serviceman): “Everything was destroyed, I served in the army for decades. Today, I sleep like a beggar. Is this the reward for my sacrifice?”

• Haroon Rashid War (laborer): “My baby girl coughs all night. The doctor said she needs warm shelter. I laughed, we don’t even have a roof. My heart breaks every time she shivers.”

• Other affected: Shafeeq Ahmad War (ex-serviceman), Tasveer Ahmad War (laborer), Nazir Ahmad War (laborer), Muneer Ahmad War (laborer), Safeer Ahmad War (cowshed damaged).

Table 2: Damaged Houses in Dildar Batpora

S No Household Head Occupation

1 Rafeeq Ahmad War Ex-serviceman

2 Shafeeq Ahmad War Ex-serviceman

3 Tasveer Ahmad War Laborer

4 Nazir Ahmad War Laborer

5 Haroon Rashid War Laborer

6 Muneer Ahmad War Laborer

7 Safeer Ahmad War Laborer, Cowshed Damaged

Tarboni: Sanctuaries Shattered

Tarboni’s families face unimaginable loss:

• Javid Ahmad Khan (Revenue employee): His entire house was destroyed. “My home was our sanctuary, built with years of savings. Now it’s gone. Where do we go from here?”

• Jatinder Singh (policeman): His home’s walls, windows, and roof were destroyed, disrupting his daughter’s wedding. “Her bridal dress was torn by the blast. She hasn’t smiled in days. I feel helpless as a father.”

• Charan Singh (retired education employee): “I taught generations in this valley. Today, I have no books, no bed, no ceiling. My life’s work is buried in rubble.”

• Other affected: Riyaz Ahmad (teacher), Amarjeet Singh (army employee), Gurdev Singh (daily wager).

Baghbella: Widows and Orphans in Despair

Baghbella’s residents, particularly vulnerable widows, face dire circumstances:

• Raheem Fatima (widow): Her house was completely destroyed, leaving her and her children (an older daughter and younger son) homeless. “We have no man in the house, no roof. Even God seems far now. My children shiver in the cold, and I can only hold them and cry.”

• Others affected: Khushal Hussain Shah (laborer), Noor Fatima (widow), Noor Ali Shah, Nazir Ahmad Shah, Parvaiz Ahmad Shah.

• Meanwhile, more than 40 houses with damaged roof sheets remain missing from government records. The families living in these homes are still waiting, holding on to the hope that someone will come to document their loss. They placed their trust in the very government they voted for, now, they wait in silence, hoping their voices will finally be heard.

Gomal: Livelihoods Severed

Vehicle destruction has crippled livelihoods:

• Riyaz Ahmad (farmer): His tractor (JK09B 0552) was destroyed. “That tractor was my life. Now I can’t farm, can’t feed my family.”

• Raja Mohammad Sayeed (driver): His Tata Sumo (JK09A 4707) was destroyed. “I built my life over years. Now I walk to neighbors asking for a ride. My children ask why we are poor now.”

Emotional and Social Impact: A Community in Trauma

The shelling has left deep psychological scars. Nazir Ahmad’s daughter, once radiant with wedding dreams, now sits in silence. Rayees Ahmad Mir, bedridden, fears his children’s future. Raheem Fatima struggles to shield her children from the cold. A Batpora resident recounted, “We had hardly gone to bed when a mortar shell hit a vehicle in front of our house. It caught fire, and our homes turned to ashes. We could do nothing” (Greater Kashmir, May 2025). A former Sarpanch added, “The market is closed, and people stay indoors, fearing for their lives” (ETV Bharat, May 2025). An elderly woman in Dildar Batpora pleaded, “Don’t let us die in silence. Don’t let our children inherit trauma as their legacy.” A young boy in Baghbella, clutching a broken toy, asked, “If India treats its border citizens like this, who do we turn to?” Social media on X amplifies these cries, with posts like, “Karnah bleeds, and the nation looks away. #SaveKarnah” gaining traction. The JDF’s visit confirmed a pervasive sense of abandonment, with families feeling invisible to authorities.

Legal and Moral Imperatives

The crisis in Karnah is not just a humanitarian tragedy but a violation of fundamental rights. Under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, the government is obligated to protect citizens’ rights to life, liberty, and dignity. The failure to provide adequate relief and safety measures constitutes a breach of this duty. Internationally, the Geneva Conventions (1949), to which India is a signatory, mandate the protection of civilians during armed conflicts, including the provision of shelter, medical care, and humanitarian aid. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25) further affirms the right to an adequate standard of living. The government’s moral obligation is equally compelling: these are Indian citizens, many of whom have served the nation as soldiers, teachers, and public servants, now left to fend for themselves in a war zone.

A Vision for Recovery: Urgent Appeal to Authorities

The JDF, on behalf of Karnah’s war-torn families, implores the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and Government of India to act decisively. While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s meetings on May 10, 2025 (The Hindu), and the Indian Army’s aid distribution in six villages are steps forward, they are woefully insufficient. Compensation (e.g., Rs 1,20,000 for some families but not all with fully damaged houses) cannot rebuild homes, and many families report no aid. Reports of planned bunker construction (Rising Kashmir) remain unfulfilled, leaving residents vulnerable. We propose the following comprehensive measures:

1. Immediate and Fair Compensation: Provide funds sufficient to rebuild homes and replace lost property, far exceeding the inadequate Rs 1,20,000 given to some families.

2. Rehabilitation Support: Offer temporary housing, food, clothing, and financial aid to ensure no family sleeps under open skies.

3. Shell-Proof Bunkers: Construct both community and individual bunkers in every village, engineered to withstand intense artillery fire and equipped with proper ventilation, lighting, and sanitation facilities. Many existing bunkers, often neglected and in disrepair, as reported by The Wire, urgently need comprehensive upgrades. Ghulam Mustafa, a former Sarpanch, recounted, “During the 1971 war and the shelling since 2000, my relatives lost limbs and lives. Without bunkers with reinforced roofs, survival is uncertain.” Given that groundwater is encountered at just 10 feet in the area, these bunkers must be built with advanced waterproofing and drainage systems to ensure they remain dry and functional during emergencies. Anything less would be a betrayal of the people’s safety.

4. Medical Assistance: Establish mobile medical camps for the injured (e.g., Rayees Ahmad Mir) and provide disability pensions or employment support.

5. Livelihood Restoration: Subsidize shop owners in Tangdhar and vehicle owners like Riyaz Ahmad to rebuild their businesses.

6. Psychological Support: Deploy counselors to address trauma, particularly for children like Nazir Ahmad’s daughter and Raheem Fatima’s son.

7. Infrastructure Repair: Restore roads, water supply, and electricity to enable recovery.

8. Insurance companies must promptly compensate Tangdhar shopkeepers. These traders paid premiums expecting protection—delays only worsen their hardship and undermine trust. Justice demands immediate payout.

9. Insurance Relief: Insurance companies must promptly compensate Karnah shopkeepers. These traders paid premiums expecting protection, delays only worsen their hardship and undermine trust. Justice demands immediate payout.

10. Education Aid: Provide books, uniforms, and scholarships for children like Raheem Fatima’s, ensuring educational continuity.

11. On-Spot Damage Assessment: Deploy teams to verify damages for prompt, transparent compensation.

12. Community Engagement: Involve local leaders in relief planning to ensure aid reaches the neediest.

13. Long-term Peace Initiatives: Pursue diplomatic efforts to prevent future conflicts along the LoC, ensuring lasting security.

14. Transparency and Accountability: Publicly announce relief measures, establish a helpline, and create a task force to monitor aid distribution.

A Call to the Nation

Beyond the government, we appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The families of Karnah are not just statistics; they are our brothers and sisters, living on the edge of our nation, bearing the brunt of conflict. Their resilience is a testament to India’s spirit, but their suffering is a stain on our collective conscience. NGOs, philanthropists, and citizens must rally to support relief efforts, whether through donations, advocacy, or volunteering. Media outlets must amplify these voices, ensuring Karnah is not forgotten. As a young girl in Hajinar said, “I want to go to school, not hide from bombs. Will someone hear me?” Let us answer her call.

Conclusion: A Promise to Karnah

The crisis in Karnah is a test of India’s commitment to its citizens. These families, who have served and sacrificed, deserve more than sympathy, they deserve justice, dignity, and a future. The JDF, having walked through the ruins on May 25, 2025, pledges to stand with Karnah until their homes are rebuilt, their wounds healed, and their voices heard. We implore the authorities to act with urgency and compassion, ensuring that the forgotten frontline is forgotten no more.