JOIN USAmid panic, peace keeps spirits alive on border
People living in the border areas of Jammu, who have been bearing the brunt of Pakistani shelling from the last one week, are desperately hoping that peace would be restored soon.
Amid the panic unleashed by the relentless exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops since October 1, they are hopeful that the two sides would resolve the issue as early as possible to restore peace along the International Border.
Thousands of people have been forced to live in temporary relief camps set up by the state government. One such relief camp is in the ITI Building in R S Pura town, where at least 600 people from Chandu-Chak, Abdullian and Layian are putting up.
“From the last one week, our area resembles a war zone. There is an atmosphere of panic all along the border. Firing continues throughout the night and it stops only in the morning. This has forced hundreds of people to leave their homes and take refuge in relief camps,” Bachan Lal, sarpanch (village head) of Chandu Chak told Deccan Herald.
The sarpanch is taking care of 600 people of his area in the relief camp which includes 250 women, 200 men and 150 children. “The biggest problem for the villagers is they are not able to move out with their livestock. As most of the people on border are poor, their only source of income is live stock. Shelling has affected their livelihood,” he said.
Sham Lal (60), a farmer, says that the latest shelling has severely affected their crop as it was the harvesting season. “First, the flash floods created havoc and now the shelling has made our lives hell,” he rued.
As if lack of basic amenities is not enough to make the lives of border villagers difficult, antagonistic relationship between India and Pakistan adds to their misery.
“We have cultivated basmati and the crop is ready for reaping, but we cannot go into the fields,” he complained.
He said the government of both the sides should hold talks and resolve the issue. Baw Singh, another farmer from the worst-affected Chalyar village of Samba sector, wonders as to why the civilian areas were being targeted for no fault of theirs.
“We are innocent civilians. I don’t know why Pakistani troops have been pounding our villages. They may have something against Indian government but why are they punishing us,” he asked.
Urging the state and the central governments to construct more bunkers in the border villages so that people can take shelter during emergency, Singh said: “If more bunkers are constructed in the villages as per the requirement of population, it would help people and loss of life can be avoided.”
While most of the people in the border areas blame Pakistan for the sudden escalation of tensions, they also hope and pray that it is contained before it gets out of control.
“Hopes of peace keep us moving. After 2003 ceasefire, we had a sigh of relief. We hope Pakistan doesn’t escalate the tension as civilians on other side of the border are also getting affected,” the villagers said.