Suchetgarh (Jammu), February 7
It was after several years that
men, women and children danced as the band played music in Basti-Gulabgarh village right on the Indo-Pakistan border where a marriage was solemnised today without any fear of bullets being sprayed at them from across the border.
Many houses in the village have marks of bullets fired in the past by the Pakistani Rangers. There has been complete silence, with life becoming normal since November last when the two countries enforced a ceasefire.
Village elders were happy that due to the ceasefire between India and Pakistan they were in a position for the first time to solemnise the marriage of Anil Kumar with traditional gusto.
Marriages in the past were a quiet affair, away from the village due to the fear of the Pakistani troops who would open indiscriminate firing at them in case any lighting was done at night or music was played.
A woman said that the ceasefire had come as a boon as people from other areas had started marrying their girls here. People were earlier reluctant to marry their daughters in the border villages because of the threat of shelling by Pakistan that had killed several persons and destroyed property.
Som Prakash, father of the groom, said he was happy that he was able to marry his son to Babli Sharma, a resident of Akhnoor. The marriage party
