Fences and neighbours

Another issue in the border districts is the shifting of the barbed wire fencing along the international border (IB). Villagers are demanding that the fencing should be done at a distance of mere 50 yards from the international border. They say it will make farming easier for them as then there will be no need for gate passes, identity cards and the hassle of opening and closing the gates by the BSF men.

We visited one such village, Walleh Shah Hitar, near the BSF post GG I. The village has a woman sarpanch, Ratto Bai. Its inhabitants are mostly small and marginal farmers. This village, too, has a primary school with 150 to 200 students. Chakhar Singh, former Nambardar of the village, says as of now, the distance between the IB and the barbed wire fencing is not uniform and varies from area to area. So villagers have to cross the gates, manned by the BSF personnel, to go to their fields and have to return before the gates are closed for the day. It is a major irritant for the farmers, especially during the harvesting season.

However, the BSF officials disagree. According to DIG V.K. Sharma, international norms state that no defence structure can be raised till a distance of 150 yards from the international border. Sharma says as of now, when an intruder is caught or shot, it can be proved that he was on Indian territory or not. But if the distance is reduced, it will make the task difficult for the security forces as the enemy can take away the body or the intruder may find it easier to escape back to the other side.

Security personnel also do not rule out vote-bank politics behind the demand being raised by the farmers but maintain that they have to abide by the directives of the Union Home Ministry. According to them, the demand for 50-yard distance from the IB is only a request from the farmers and is not final. — S.S.