Fear let loose, villagers pay a price : The Tribune India

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Fear let loose, villagers pay a price

Sawinder Kaur of village Kals (Tarn Taran), located hardly 500 meters from border, vividly recalls her marriage in 1971: A day before her wedding, her husband Mohan Singh and a few others were taken away by Pakistani forces, but were later released.



GS Paul in Khemkaran Sector

Sawinder Kaur of village Kals (Tarn Taran), located hardly 500 meters from border, vividly recalls her marriage in 1971: A day before her wedding, her husband Mohan Singh and a few others were taken away by Pakistani forces, but were later released. She now lives with her three sons. "My wedding took place 20 days later. I was scared, but things got normal soon. A similar fear lurked in my mind during 1999 Kargil war when we had to shift with whatever belongings we could take along," she said. This time, she decided to remain in her village. "For some reason, I felt things are not going to be as bad," Kaur said. 

Many farmers in the Khemkaran sector alleged that petrol and diesel prices went up four times on September 29-30. The prices were restored only after Tarn Taran DC's intervention. They said each family must have spent at least Rs 10,000 in the first three days in buying fuel for vehicles for moving to safer areas. "We bought diesel for Rs 200 per litre. Who is going to compensate us?" asked a villager. 

People in Punjab's border areas would shift back following a government order, which first instructed evacuation following Sept 28-29 surgical strikes and then, just about a week later withdrew it. The lanes and by-lanes of almost-deserted villages in Khemkaran and Tarn Taran sectors would again be abuzz with stories of living a life split into two: of their homes that became no-go areas and of the bravado of talking about previous wars in the safe houses of their relatives. 

Many residents had left their villages with whatever they could have carried in tractor-trolleys, trucks, buses, private cars, on horses and cattle-driven carriages. They, however, had only one question: If Samjhauta Express, Delhi-Lahore bus service and cross-border trade were not stopped, then why were they being asked to shift? 

Yet there were several who decided to stay put: the harvest time was around. Children and women were sent to relatives' places while male members avoided stepping out of their houses, leaving their cattle and fields unattended. The situation was no different for many at Ranian, Daoke, Kakkar, Dharial, Chak, Dharia, Pandhori, Bachiwind, Kawe and Manj villages in Attari and Ajnala sectors, located a kilometre from the border. 

Ex-servicemen Balwinder Singh and Gurnam Singh of Narli village said the government created a frivolous panic as villagers in Rajasthan and Gujarat were not evacuated. "As a precautionary measure, we shifted our family to our relatives' place. I stayed back along with my son Avtar Singh, a serving Naik in the Army. The family members returned only a couple of days back as the authorities decided to reopen schools," said Balwinder. 

Gurnam Singh, a retired soldier, recalled that during 1965 war, the then PM Lal Bahadur Shastri had come to the border areas. "He announced the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan' and asked the farmers to assist the military. The present government appears uncertain about Pakistan's moves, and we bear the consequences."

Retired sepoy Jarnail Singh of Chhina Bidi Chand village, which was occupied by the Pakistani army in 1971 War, recalled: "I was part of the Army during the 1965, 1971 and 1999 Kargil wars. This time, it appears we are fighting our own fears." Gurman Singh and Gajjan Singh of Ranian and Chak villages said more unemployed border village youth should be inducted into defence forces on a priority. We should also be trained to handle emergency situations," said a villager.

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