Chamliyal (Samba), June 28
Civilians climbed Border Security Force (BSF) embankments of this border outpost (BoP) as they joined security forces personnel to watch closely across the border, not for an enemy but to have a glimpse of those, who had sent green 'chadar' for a 'mazaar' on this side of the border today.

The moments were emotional as the Pakistani Rangers, led by Col Mahmood, brought the green 'chadar' on behalf of the people of Pakistan for the departed soul, who has been sleeping at the 'mazaar' at Chamliyal BoP for more than 300 years now.

The 300-year-old 'mela' is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every June at two spots, half a kilometre apart -- Chamliyal (in India) and Saida Wali (in Pakistan) -- since the partition in 1947. The fair goes for three days at Saida Wali and for a single day at Chamliyal.

The sacred occasion has a three centuries old legend behind it, according to which a saintly man, Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, was attacked and beheaded by some persons while he was on his way near Chamliyal. While his head remained at Saida Wali village, the body was buried at Chamliyal, where now stands his 'mazaar'. A disciple of the Baba had a dream one night that his skin ailment would be cured if he applied mud from the soil of this 'mazaar'. He did it and was cured. Since then hundreds of families throng this place for the cure of skin ailments by using the mud of soil here.

It is soil of this place which now is annually sent to the people across the border as well, along with 'shakkar wala sharbat' (sweetened water), while the men from the other side send 'chadar' for the 'mazaar' to pay obeisance at the shrine.

The Pak Rangers were accompanied by nearly 10 devotees who held the 'chadar', beautifully embroidered with 'tilla' (gold plated wire), from four corners and crossed the zero line of the international border, dividing the states of West Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir here.

Col Mahmood and his fellow Rangers were received by DIG G S Virk of the BSF at the Chamliyal border outpost (BoP). The two guardians of their respective borders interacted for nearly an hour during which the BSF band also played tunes. They also exchanged sweets and mangoes on the occasion.

DIG Virk and Col Mahmood shook hands with smiles on their faces, while parting ways at the zero line with Indian and Pakistani flags fluttering in air.

The civilians on each side of the border remained at least 500 metres away as they watched across the border, with some of them using binoculars to have a closer view of the far-away crowd which once belonged to the same soil 60 years back.

Though the Pak Rangers gave credit to the peace “process” for sharing warm moments with the BSF men on the sacred occasion of Chamliyal fair at this border outpost (BoP), they said there were many “ifs and buts” when it comes to the thought of opening borders for the public on such occasions. Both DIG G S Virk of the BSF and Col Mahmood of the Pakistan Rangers said they would not like to comment on the issue of infiltration along this fenced International Border (IB) border of the Jammu division.

Srinagar, June 28
The police who foiled a suicide attack on the Army’s divisional headquarters in Kupwara district gunned down three militants today. A girl was also killed and a jawan injured in the encounter, police said.

Acting on specific information about the militants’ plan of a suicide attack on 28 Div headquarters near Kupwara, the police launched a search operation. The blue-coloured Maruti van, in which the militants were traveling, was intercepted at Shalkote, about one km from the headquarters, a police spokesman said. When stopped, the militants opened fire on the police and were killed in retaliatory action, the police said. A girl, Fahmida, was also killed in the encounter, police said.

“The fidayeen were wearing Army uniforms and combatant shoes. They had also covered their chests adequately,” the spokesperson quoting Kupwara SSP said.

Three AK rifles, nine grenades, one radio set and 287 rounds were recovered, police said.

Elsewhere, four unidentified infiltrators and a jawan were killed in an encounter at Taragah Behak in Uri sector last night.