Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: An eerie calm prevailed along the International Border (IB) in Arnia sector today after last two days of intense firing but the people stayed indoors and refrained from cultivation of paddy crop anticipating fresh firing from across the border.
Official reports and eyewitnesses said there was no firing from Pakistan side in entire Arnia sector since last night, which has restored confidence among the panic-stricken people to some extent but still the people refrained from venturing out of their houses except for purchasing essential commodities.
The people preferred to stay indoors in forward villages of Arnia sector including Pittal and Pindi, which had witnessed intense firing on Thursday and the intervening night of Thursday and Friday leading to death of one BSF jawan and injuries to seven others including three BSF personnel and four civilians.
Reports said the BSF remained on very high alert all along the International Border throughout the last night and during the day today but there was no firing from the Pakistan side.
The people said they would move out in the fields to cultivate paddy crop, whose season was on, only when they feel fully safe.
“Presently, we are distressed after Thursday’s heavy firing on the civilians in which several people working in the fields were trapped for two to three hours,’’ the people said, adding they would not risk their lives over the crop.
“Of course, crop is essential for us but we would go to the fields only when the firing is stopped as we can wait for sowing of the crop,’’ they said.
Reports said there had been no contact between the BSF and the Rangers after Thursday’s heavy firing so far.
“There was no flag meeting or hotline contact between the two,’’ they said, adding the flag meeting could be held only once complete normalcy was restored on the International Border.
It may be mentioned here that BSF and Rangers had held flag meeting at the IB in forward area of Chambliyal in Ramgarh sector on Wednesday, a day before the heavy firing erupted on the border.
The flag meeting had discussed previous two incidents of ceasefire violation by the Rangers in Arnia sector and cutting of grown up ‘sarkanda’ (wild grass) along the borders.
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