'Army had laid land mines along border during Kargil war'

Army had laid land mines in approximately 3,512 acres of land in several villages along Indo-Pak Border during Kargil war in 1999 for defence purposes, state government said today.
"For defence purposes the Army had laid land mines in a large number of border villages in approximately 28096 kanals (3512 Acres) of land," state Home Minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo today informed the Legislative Assembly.
Kichloo also told the House that during the war, as many as 6,072 families from 21 villages including Niabat Khour, Tehsil, Akhnoor were relocated to safer places.
"Temporary camps were set up by the government at Devipur, Naiwala, Bomal and Thandi-Choi in Tehsil Akhnoor to provide shelter to these people. The affected people were also provided free ration, relief and other benefits," he said.

After situation normalised, the government provided assistance for repair, renovation of their damaged houses, purchase of household items, rebuilding of infrastructure as part of rehabilitation plan, he said.