Some parts of LoC as well as IB have become recurring targets of firing and shelling by Pakistani Rangers. Precious lives are lost, houses are razed to ground or extensively damaged, cattle are killed and crops in the fields along the border are extensively damaged. On the border it turns into war like situation when Pakistani Rangers are bent upon unleashing gun fire. Obviously, Indian side will counter any activity of Pakistani when firing is unprovoked. Whatever be the case, ultimately the brunt is to be borne by our villagers. Their only sin is that after the partition of the country in 1947, they were forced to become inhabitants of border freshly drawn between India and Pakistan.
There are innumerable countries in the world with common border. But they are governed by a rule of law and above all the spirit of good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence. The case of our neighbor namely Pakistan is quite different. That country’s people are fed with anti-India venom for various reasons. This phenomenon is given religious colour by Pakistani leadership…
Incessant firing continues from Pakistani Rangers along the IB. It has caused extensive damages to life and property. The point that we would like to bring under consideration is not the why and how of Pakistani firing. That issue has been debated extensively and we would not like to repeat it here. But there is an important aspect to the entire issue and that is of providing safer alternatives to the endangered population along the border. What are we going to do with the situation that arises out of unprovoked shelling and firing? Either we unleash massive retaliation so as to cause horrendous human and material damages to the enemy or we pay them back in the same coin. This apart don’t we need to reinforce efforts that would ensure safety of our citizens who live along the border? Knowing the policy of Pakistan of keeping our Border Security forces engaged in skirmishes without embarking on a limited war, it become clear that among other preventive measures, one is of removing the affected people on the border to a new locale that is far removed from becoming the target of enemy shelling.
People from the area on the border that are under enemy fire complain that on the occurrence of each happening of that sort, they are assured of being removed to safer places and resettled there. If the policy at any level is that these people should be allotted plots of land far away from the border so that they can live safely without the Damocles’ sword hanging on their head, then this promise should have been fulfilled and a step towards that end should have been taken. The impression is that the politicians do make tall promises when elections are round the corner but once elections are over, they very easily forget the commitments they have made with the people. These people are unfortunately placed in a critical situation. They have their small or large holdings along the border and this is their means of subsistence. Pakistan has brought the entire border under firing and shelling so that our people leave their homes out of fear of life and thus leave a wide strip uninhabited. This being the situation, Indian side is left with no alternative but to retaliate effectively. How long will this situation continue nobody can predict? But the fact is that Indian citizens cannot be turned in to sitting ducks for Pakistani gunmen. Therefore there is some sense in removing more vulnerable people to safer places a few kilometers away from the border and provide them facilities so that they can settle down but continue to cultivate their lands as usual. Yes, this would cause many difficulties to the farmers but the option is viable and should be tried. The matter needs to be discussed by the stake holders and besides the State Government, Union Defence Ministry and Home Ministry both have very decisive role to play in taking a decision on the project of rehabilitating the affected people temporarily at safer place.
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