Ajay Raina
-Excelsior/Rakesh
ARNIA (IB), Nov 28: Fear was writ large on the faces of people living in dozens of villages on International Border (IB) in RS Pura and Arnia sectors as people felt that Pakistan can resort to firing, shelling and the recent fidayeen attack like incidents anytime and throw their lives out of gear.
The residents of various villages of the IB particularly Kathaar, Pindi Charka, Arnia, Kathaar Kothe, Sai, Abdullian, Bera, Jora Farm, Treva and others are still living under the shadow of guns, which was undoubtedly perceptible on their faces during interaction with the EXCELSIOR.
The recent fidayeen attack in Kathaar Kothe area, left an impression on the border residents that Pakistan can again try to stab them in the back anytime by indulging in these kinds of terror activities.
In the recent fidayeen attack, 3 Army jawans and 5 civilians lost their lives. However, Indian forces gunned down four fidayeen.
Dimple, a resident of Kathaar Kothe, who helps his father in agricultural fields, said that farming is the main profession of the border residents and we feel insecure to venture into their fields located just around the International Border (IB).
“Several times, mortar bombs and shells fired by the Pakistani side landed in our fields and in our houses too, causing damages to property and also resulted in loss of lives and injuries. Our fields are in the direct firing line of the Pakistani rangers, so it has now become difficult for us to work there”, he said, adding that due to apathetic attitude of the State Government and its non-seriousness towards border residents, we are forced to live under the fear of guns.
Amit Choudhary, a resident of Pindi Charka, the last hamlet on the IB in Arnia sector said “We have left our home empty handed to save lives because of the recent fidayeen attack and continued exchange of fire between India and Pakistan in the past”.
“Life has got disturbed totally and we pray for peace to prevail”, he said, adding that most of the villagers in IB belt are worried about their cattle and belongings, but the State Government is acting like a mute-spectator.
The continued firing and the recent fidayeen attack has created panic among the residents living close to frontier areas, most of whom spent night in underground bunkers, he stated.
A housewife Sushma Devi of Ala, Arnia, expressed apprehensions of terror activities like fidayeen attack by Pakistani forces in future also, but stressed that home was better than the shelters as they witnessed worst experience in the shelter places in the past, which were arranged by Administration in schools, community halls, etc”, she added.
People said that villages on the IB are converted into ghost town as they have to face firing, shelling and recent fidayeen attack, which sometimes resulted into loss of lives and injuries to border dwellers.
Majority of the residents of various villages on IB were earlier forced to take shelter in the Government-run relief camp after cross-border terror activities by the Pakistani side have returned to their houses. But they still live under the shadow of guns. The residents say even though they have returned to their houses, they still feel a sense of insecurity.
Expressing anguish over the lethargic approach of the State Government toward border dwellers, Santokh Nath, a shopkeeper at Kathaar said that “How long will we keep on migrating? We have been suffering since 1947 because of Pakistan. It’s now our final place and even the fear of death can’t move us out”.
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