With tension writ large on their faces, the routine life of majority of border residents in RS Pura, Pargwal and Hiranagar sectors of Jammu frontier has come to a standstill for the last two days. Since early Thursday morning these sectors have been witnessing regular exchange of heavy volume firing between BSF and Pakistani Rangers. Series of ‘hot skirmishes’ along the IB in Jammu frontier have already alerted the BSF to gear up its defences as Pakistani Rangers may spring a surprise by targeting large number of border posts to shift the focus of attention from the line of Control to the International border.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is also expected to visit the International border in Jammu frontier in the wake of fresh hostilities along the IB on October 22. He is also expected to chair a high level security review meeting with senior officers of the security grid on October 22 before flying back to New Delhi. Meanwhile, CM Omar Abdullah in Srinagar expressed serious concerns over the repeated incidents of ceasefire violations and questioned the intentions of the Pakistan behind escalating tensions with India.
On the other hand, daylong targeting of civilian areas by the Pakistani Rangers has already spread panic in the area and most of the residents fear escalating tensions may further compound their miseries in the coming harvesting season.
On Thursday, a total number of seven people including two BSF jawans, three children and two women were injured in different incidents of cross border firing from the Pakistani side. The firing continued past midnight in Pargwal, Hiranagar and RS Pura sectors and over half a dozen Indian posts were targeted by the Pakistani rangers. Regular exchange of fire till 1.30 am in the wee hours forced people to stay awake and spend sleepless chilly night.
On Friday morning as farmers were about to start their routine work they were prevented by the BSF and local police authorities from venturing in to their fields. large number of them were caught in the cross fire on Thursday afternoon and were rescued to safer places.
The BSF took this preventive step to avoid any collateral damage to the civilian lives in the wake of escalating tension even along the International border.
By late Friday evening Pakistani rangers again trained their guns towards Indian position in Pargwal and RS Pura sector and resorted to ‘unprovoked’ firing in the area.The firing in the area went on intermittently till late Friday night,official sources said.
According to ground reports, most of the educational institutions, both State-run and private, wore deserted look and village streets remained empty in RS Pura sector as people remained huddled inside their homes for fear of getting trapped in the cross fire or becoming victim of border skirmishes between the border guards of neighboring countries.
Taking cue from the events of last 48 hours even the State Government has activated its machinery and has started gearing up to meet any eventuality.
On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand directed both civil and police administration to be fully geared up for dealing with any eventuality. Tara Chand said in view of the recent firing on International Border in Pargwal and RS Pura sectors administration should be ready with contingency plan and all out efforts should be made to provide required aid to those injured in the firing on border.