Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Oct 29: In the midst of an uneasy calm in villages along the International Border (IB) in Jammu District, residents living near the fence in the Arnia sector have initiated the cleaning of both community and individual bunkers.
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Alongside launching the cleaning operations, they have made requests to the administration to unlock certain bunkers controlled by some individuals as they were constructed within their premises.
Additionally, pleas have been put forth in public meetings for the construction of additional bunkers to enhance the safety of border residents.
In Arnia, bunkers located within the premises of PHC Arnia, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Arnia, Bus Stand Arnia, RS Pura Main Road Arnia, Ward number 10, and Ward number 5, Arnia, were cleaned today with active participation from Town Area Committee (TAC) Arnia officials and local residents.
Ramesh Saini, Chairman of the Municipal Committee in Arnia, stated, “After cleaning 5-6 underground community bunkers, we’ve requested the administration to unlock individual bunkers found locked during the cleanliness drive today.”
He also requested the administration in public meetings to construct additional community and individual bunkers in Arnia, as well as improving the condition of the existing bunkers.
In Trewa Village of Arnia, a cleaning operation was led by Sarpanch Balbir Kour, who was joined by approximately 25-30 local residents.
Balbir Kour explained that bunkers in Trewa and other border villages had not been cleaned for the past 4-5 years due to the prevailing peaceful conditions.
However, in response to unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistan on October 26 and 27, the cleaning efforts in Trewa began on October 28, and in just two days (October 28 and 29), all seven bunkers in Trewa were cleaned.
While shells landed in uninhabited areas in Trewa during the recent shelling, the 8-hour-long bombardment has created panic among the village’s residents. As a result, people have been seeking refuge in the 7 bunkers every night, with nearly 50 individuals using each bunker.
Asked why people are staying in the bunkers when no incident of ceasefire violation has been reported after October 27, 2023, Balbir Kour, the Sarpanch of Trewa said, “we’ve taken this precaution for the safety of the people due to the unpredictable nature of Pakistan.”
Similar cleaning operations have been launched in other border areas of Jammu Province, including in Samba, and Kathua districts.
Pertinently, India shares a 3,323 km-long border with Pakistan, with 221 Km of the IB and 744 Km of the LoC falling in Jammu and Kashmir.
Although both India and Pakistan entered into a ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021, which led to peace along the borders, incidents of ceasefire violations have occurred, with the most recent one on October 17, 2023, when Pakistan violated the ceasefire.
Subsequently, three individuals, including two BSF jawans and a woman, were injured following Pakistan’s heavy firing and shelling in the Arnia and RS Pura sectors on the intervening nights of October 26 and 27, prompting the Border Security Force (BSF) to befittingly reply to the violations.
Following the violations, Border Security Force has also lodged a strong protest with the Pakistani Rangers for targeting the forward posts and villages along the IB in Jammu with heavy firing and mortar shelling
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