Fear of death, destruction forces Abdullian border residents to flee

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Abdullian (RS Pura), Oct 26

Abdullian — a border village in the Ranbir Singh Pura sector on the International Border— resembles a ghost village as more than 70 per cent of its residents have already migrated to safer places.

In this lifeless village, there are rows of locked houses and stinking cattle sheds. Shells fired by Pakistan have caused much destruction. Shells and firing have damaged roofs, broken windowpanes and disfigured walls and killed and maimed cattle.

Tailfins of shells lie scattered in the village and unexploded shells pose a threat to life and cattle.

In the fields, there are no labourers or families harvesting paddy as farmers harvested ahead of time fearing increase in border tension.

Just 72 hours ago, the villagers were preparing for Diwali and everyone, including students, was going about their business.

But everything came to a grinding halt on Sunday evening when Pakistan started shelling and firing. In the village, gunshots and shelling have replaced mirth of girls and boys playing in streets.

Those who are staying back in the village are there just to take care of the cattle and other household items.

Locals said standing in the village streets meant inviting death as no one knew where and when the next shell from Pakistan would land.

A few young and elderly men were seen hauling valuables on to their motorcycles and horsecarts before leaving the village.

Amid shelling, The Tribune team this morning reached the village and visited some of the houses damaged in shelling. On the way, the team talked to many border villagers who were apprehensive of moving back to their homes.

“A shell exploded on the rooftop of this house at night, creating a big hole. All essentials stored in the house were damaged. The owner of the house, Swarn Lal, along with his family left the village on Tuesday,” said Sama Ram, Swarn Lal’s neighbour.

Half an hour after The Tribune team reached the village, firing and shelling stopped and a few people staying in the village came out of their homes to share their ordeal.

“More than 70 per cent of the people shifted to safer places on Tuesday and the remaining are expected to leave today. It is difficult to stay here amid shelling. I am the only one staying back in my house. My family shifted to safer places on Tuesday,” said Lucky Choudhary, whose house was damaged when a shell exploded on its rooftop a couple of days ago.