Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, August 22

The viewers’ gallery at the Indo-Pakistan joint checkpost, Hussainiwala, which used to host over 1,000 visitors each day before the outbreak of Covid, has been wearing a deserted look for over a year. The BSF had closed the entry of visitors for witnessing its beating retreat ceremony last year in view of the pandemic.

While the Pakistan Rangers have allowed the visitors, the Indian side is yet to open its doors to public. Before the pandemic, thousands would throng Hussainiwala daily to witness the electrifying drill by the BSF and Pakistan Rangers. The numbers would go up substantially on weekends and special occasions.

The absence of visitors has also severely hit the local economy, as restaurants, auto-rickshaw drivers and other vendors are left in the lurch. Praveen Bansal, a local businessman, demanded that the BSF should allow visitors at the earliest.

While the BSF has resumed the beating retreat ceremony at the India-Bangladesh border, there has been no decision on allowing spectators at the Attari-Wagah and Hussainiwala border joint checkpost. BSF officials say the issue of visitors’ entry is under consideration. Sudhir Arya, a local contactor, said the visitor’s entry should be resumed at the earliest. “I have many relative who returned home disappointed due to this ban,” he said.

Beating retreat

• While the Pakistan Rangers have allowed the visitors, the Indian side is yet to open its doors to public
• Before the pandemic, thousands would throng Hussainiwala daily to witness the electrifying drill by the BSF and Pakistan Rangers
• The absence of visitors has severely hit the local economy, as restaurants, auto-rickshaw drivers and other vendors are left in the lurch
• While the BSF has resumed the beating retreat at the India-Bangladesh border, there has been no decision on allowing spectators at the Hussainiwala border