Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 19: In the season of marriages, heavy shelling and firing by Pakistani Rangers has been costing very dearly to the people in the forward villages. Not only the people have been suffering injuries and damage to their houses and crops, the marriages have also been badly hit.
In one of the marriages scheduled today in Pargwal sector, which was worst hit by Pakistan shelling on Thursday causing injuries to five civilians including three children and two women, the `baratis’ were the worst sufferers. So were the members of the bride’s family.
Joginder Singh Chib of Pargwal is due to marry Seema Devi of village Najwal, where five civilians were injured on Thursday, tonight.
However, the entire charm of the marriage was spoiled by Pakistani Rangers, whose shelling and firing throughout the last night terrified the people to such an extent that they had to organise the functions in close doors.
Said Renu Devi, sister of bridegroom, Joginder Singh Chib: “we were expecting at least 150 guests to accompany the barat from our house in Pargwal to bride’s residence at Najwal. But in the end, only 50 family members and close relatives joined the barat while other relatives, friends and neighbours stayed away in view of Pakistan firing and shelling.
“The barat did reach Najwal from Pargwal but without much fanfare as not only the number of baratis was confined to 50 but other rituals like dance to the tunes of band and dhol and horse riding by the bridegroom had to be limited to few minutes and shifted to safer places due to Pakistan firing,” she said.
Similar was the position of Seema Devi’s family, which resides in Najwal village and was badly hit by Pakistan shelling on Thursday afternoon injuring five civilians. The shells and bullets had landed in the houses and fields of the people causing extensive damage.
Seema Devi’s parents said they had arranged the dinner for 150 baratis and a large number of their own guests but in the end very few people turned up at the reception due to escalated tensions on the border.
“Pakistan has spoiled entire charm of the marriage. We had been making arrangements for the marriage of our daughter Seema Devi but we didn’t know that it had to be solemnized in such an atmosphere with very low gathering,” they said cursing the Pakistani Rangers.
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