After a gap of three long years, the festival of Eid passed peacefully at least for the residents of the border areas in Jammu & Kashmir.
In 2014 and 2015, forward Indian villages along the International Border and the line of Control were targeted by the Pak Rangers and the Army using heavy calibre of weapons. Five civilians were killed in firing in RS Pura sector while people were celebrating festival of Eid in 2014. In 2015 worshippers were targeted in the border area of Poonch after the Eid prayers.
Even the border guards deployed along the border have not exchanged customary packet of sweets due to volatile situation along the borders.
But on Wednesday Pak Rangers and BSF jawans came forward to greet each other and exchanged packet of sweets at seven different places along the International Border in Kathua, Samba, Octroi post in RS Pura, Pargwal, Chamliyal in Ramgarh and Hiranagar.
According to BSF spokesman in Jammu, the border guards on both the sides met each other and shared EID greetings at seven different locations along the Jammu frontier. He said the BSF jawans also celebrated Eid and offered special prayers before attending a feast.