Residents say won't leave, will help Army if needed

AMRITSAR: Despite apprehensions of retaliatory action by Pakistan following Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad camps in Pakistan, the residents of border areas, for now, are not ready to vacate their villages or move to safety in case of an eventuality and are instead committed to stand by the Army whose movement was observed in the border villages on Tuesday.

On the other hand, the Border Security Force (BSF) and other security forces have been put on highest state of alert in the state and security of sensitive installations especially those situated close to international border have been heightened.

Talking to TOI, Dhanoe Kalan village resident Pishora Singh said, "I did panic when I saw the Army movement today, but I am not scared. We had to migrate from our villages during Indo-Pak conflicts of 1965, 1971 and then Kargil attack, but we will not move this time." He said all the villagers had always helped the Army in the past and if need be all border residents would feel pride to help them again.

Another resident Nirmal Kaur said she was scared of retaliatory action by Pakistan. But in the same breath, she said, "It was important to teach them a lesson and our government has done the right thing."

Earlier in September 2016, the government had ordered to vacate villages falling within 10 kms of international border with Pakistan following surgical strikes in PoK.

Border Area Sangarash Committee president Rattan Singh Randhawa said following Army movement in the border areas, he along with other members took round of the villages to instill a sense of security among them. "Presence of Army only boosts our morals," he said.

Resident of Dera Baba Nanak Narinder Singh said no doubt people living close to the border were panicky, but no one had moved to safety so far. He said Pakistan couldn't dare to attack India since its support to militant organisations had been exposed to the international community.

Taking preventive security measure post-IAF strike in Pakistan, the BSF at Dera Baba Nanak laid barrier to restrict movement of people towards 'darshan asthal' erected close to the international border with Pakistan to have a glimpse of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal district of Pakistan.

"The step has been taken for the security of people after heightened tension," said BSF official on condition of anonymity, while apprehending that a large presence of Pakistan Rangers across the border could pose threat to visiting people at 'darshan asthal'.

Pathankot senior superintendent of police Vivek Sheel Soni who was touring the border areas of district said all necessary precautionary measures had been taken, including a close liaison with police of neighbouring districts Kathua (J&K), Chamba and Kangra (both in Himachal Pradesh). "Life in border villages is normal and people are not panicky," he said.

Chamba superintendent of police Monika Bhutungru said, "Due to strategic location bordering J&K and Pathankot district, the field police have been alerted."

Sources said security of sensitive installation including Ranjit Sagar Dam, Sri Guru Ram Das International Airport, defence areas, situated close to the international border with Pakistan, has been heightened. Saying that there was no need to panic, Amritsar deputy commissioner Shivdular Singh Dhillon said the administration had not received any directions to vacate the villages.