M A I N   N E W S

Respite for BSF, villagers
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

R.S. Pora, November 28
An atmosphere of uneasy truce lies along the border with Pakistan. While the ceasefire along the Line of Control has been widely hailed, villagers residing along the border belt have expressed their suspicions not only about Pakistan’s intentions but also on how long would the period of tranquility prevail.

Though the silence of the guns has brought in a lot of relief for residents of border villages, they are finding it hard to forget their miseries and wounds. Apart from loosing family members and friends to enemy bullets, they have been unable to till their lands for the past five years since Pakistan started targeting this area in the Jammu sector.

“We had been unable to cultivate our land due to relentless firing by Pakistani troops,” Krishna Kumar, a resident of Gulabgarh, which lies just 200 metres from the international border, said. “Now, perhaps if peace continues, we will be able to cultivate our fields,” he said.

With agriculture being the only source of income for these villages and virtually no scope for employment elsewhere, life had become a misery. Even education for the younger generation became a dream as schools were far off and commuting was a problem. About 10 years ago an acre of paddy crop would fetch about Rs 10,000 and that of wheat about Rs.6,000. Villagers recalled the time when there was all-round prosperity and every family was able to make both ends meet. Paddy and wheat are the only two crops grown in the area, including across the border.

In the past five years, the small village, with a population of about 100 families, has lost about 25 persons, with dozens being injured.

BSF personnel manning then border in this area say R.S. Pura had been coming under intense fire for the past few years, though for the past two days not a single shot had been fired by either side. The last incident was on November 25, when Pakistani Rangers fired six rounds.

The ceasefire is also a welcome respite for the BSF. “It gives the opportunity to the men to move around instead of being restricted to bunkers. Also, they can patrol the area and get the lay of the land,” Mr Rajesh Gupta, Commandant of a BSF Battalion, said.

Guns falling silent also has equal implications for the other side. “The Pak Rangers were also under tremendous pressure and recent flag meetings reveal that they too are feeling relaxed.” A tattered Pakistani flag fluttering above a virtually abandoned 110-feet tall watch tower being manned by 20th Wing of the Chenab Ranges at their Peeli outpost was evident of the fact that Pakistani Rangers dared not venture out, be it day or night.

The villagers, no doubt are feeling relaxed and are finding it free to move around, but they still appear to be apprehensive,” Mr Gupta said. “It is just that given the situation which has prevailed in this region, they are finding it hard to believe Pakistan,” he added.