‘People fed up with terrorism’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 20: With normal life resuming on Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) and people returning to their homes and hearths after declaration of ceasefire by India and Pakistan, the demand for recruitment of Village Defence Guards (VDGs) is gaining momentum in entire border belt to act as a second line of defence and as a foolproof mechanism against cross border infiltration.
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Despite facing displacement and destruction in every war since 1947 fought between India and Pakistan and due to 36 years long cross border terrorism, the border people are still in high spirits and they fully back the Government’s every action against Pakistan which has been involved in pushing terrorists this side right from 1989.
“Our Defence forces taught a lesson to enemy during recent Operation Sindoor and we feel proud of our valiant forces guarding our border and coastal area,” said Pardeep Choudhary, a social activist from Khour border belt, Not only in Operation Sindoor but in all three conventional wars since 1947 and the limited Kargil War, Pakistan faced worst defeat and the border people have always stood like a rock with our forces and they will continue to do so in the future as well” he added.
Apprehending the intentions of Pakistan, he said “The enemy can’t be trusted under any circumstances as it always betrayed us right from 1947 raiders’ invasion so we have to remain vigilant always and not fall in its trap”. He said constitution of VDGs will prove a deterrent to check the cross border terrorism and the Government should focus on framing of VDGs in entire border belt right from Kathua to Poonch to check the infiltration of terrorists from across the border into Indian territory.
Satish Raina, another resident of Khour while fully endorsing the demand, said the Government should involve the border people in containing terrorism by constituting VDGs. This will be a two pronged strategy- one the unemployed youth of the border belt will get a job and second they will prove very useful in guarding their areas and checking cross border terrorism.
The maximum people in this border belt are serving or have served in Armed Forces. They have worked shoulder to shoulder with them in all wars and provided all support to them, said Ankush Chowdhary another border resident form Pallanwala area.
He added that the people are so fed up with the cross border terrorism that they were ready to take guns against the enemy and fight shoulder to shoulder with Indian Armed Forces against Pakistan during recent Operation Sindoor. “We had offered our free services to Army because how long we will continue to suffer and see this mayhem,” he added.
Sukhdev Singh of Avdan in Nowshera, district Rajouri said that people living along LoC suffered huge damage during recent Pak shelling. “About two dozen people in border belt lost their lives in shelling from across, their residential houses, vehicles were damaged while the cattle and buffalos were killed. We were ready to pay any price to end this drama of Pakistan once and for all. However, we welcome the visionary decision of Prime Minister regarding ceasefire. In order to provide safety to border people from unprovoked firing from across and cross border terrorism, the Government should take immediate steps in constructing family bunkers instead of community bunkers in entire border belt and also establish VDGs who should be equipped with sophisticated weapons and arms training to deal with any eventuality” he added.
Bahadur Nath, ex Sarpanch from Nowshera area said constitution of VDGs in border belt can prove of great help in containing infiltration from across the border as local VDGs who are fully familiar with the topography and language can easily detect a stranger in the area and track him down.
Mohan Singh Bhati of Chamliyal in Samba district who is also president Border Kissan Union, Ramgarh said the life has normalised in the entire border belt and people have returned to their homes with a hope that the peace will prevail in future also.
He, while stressing an everlasting solution to the problem said construction of more family bunkers in border areas has become imperative in view of the extension of range of shelling. The bunkers need to be constructed in the villages up to five kilometre distance from IB as the range of shelling has extended this time, he added.
Singh, who last month was on pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan said the people there are also fed up and want to live in peace with India. They are not happy with their own country and are totally fed up with the role of Pak army which has usurped their rights.
Billu Chowdhary, president, Chamliyal Committee said maximum people in this belt are either serving in Army or are ex servicemen. They can be of great help in containing terrorism if they are provided arms by Government or appointed as VDGs.
Jaidev Singh, Kissan Kaliyan Samiti president border belt Hiranagar stressed on implementation of policy framed by former Governor, L K Jha regarding cultivation of border land. He said this can be very effective step in containing infiltration from across the border.
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