Frquent firing rattles border dwellers

Kanachak, September 4: Rattled by frequent ceasefire violations and infiltration by militants from Pakistan, border dwellers are at their wit's end as they fear that the four-and-half-year truce could collapse putting their lives in peril.

Dressed in battle fatigues and bullet proof jackets, jawans of army and the BSF criss-cross through hamlets and maize fields to hunt down infiltrating militants while village defence committees (VDC) assisted by police conduct intense night patrolling.

Villagers of Laliyal border hamlet, about 1.5 km from Pakistani posts, say that movements of Pakistani rangers and other armed persons - possibly militants-- have increased manifold.

"If border truce breaks, we will be killed in firing by Pakistanis. We are sitting ducks. We apprehend that Pakistan wants to break it (ceasefire)," said Nathu Ram, who lost his brother in Pak firing in 2001.

The daily Pakistan firing and mortar shelling before the November 23, 2003 border ceasefire had claimed the lives of many near and dear ones of border residents.

There are over 110 border hamlets in the Jammu frontier within 500 metres to two kilometre range of Pakistani posts along International Border in Hiranagar, Kathua, Ramgarh, Vijaypur, Samba, R S Pura and Akhnoor sub-sectors.

"Movement across the border has increased. This is an area of concern. But our troops are vigilant," a BSF officer said.