*IB, LoC nearly calm but people stay out
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 29: As by and large Indo-Pak borders remained peaceful during the day today after week-long heavy mortar shelling and firing on both International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC), Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh declared that India is ready to retaliate the Pakistani misadventures on the borders and nation should have faith on its security forces.
After heavy mortar shelling and firing during the past about one week, only intermittent shelling and firing was reported overnight and this morning in Kathua and RS Pura sectors while rest of the entire international boundary and LoC with Pakistan remained by and large calm. However, two mortar shells landed at village Chaga in Abdullian area of R S Pura sector at 10 pm tonight but failed to cause any damage.
In his message to the troops fighting Pakistani aggression on the borders in Jammu and Kashmir very effectively, Rajnath said: “Army and BSF have been giving very effective response to Pakistani troops on the borders. I’m confident and the nation must be confident that its troops will never let down the countrymen.
“The people can be rest assured that security forces have given very very strong response to Pakistan’s misadventures on the borders. I want to assure the nation that if today we are being able to celebrate Diwali, it is only because of our jawans”.
The Home Minister said people must have faith in security forces, who are foiling the evil designs of enemies.
“We will not bow down before anyone,” Rajnath declared.
Rajnath’s very strong and stern warning to Pakistan comes close on the heels of elimination of 15 Pakistani Rangers on the International Border by the BSF and destruction of enemy’s several Border Posts, Observation Towers and bunkers etc leading to panic among Pakistani forces.
Nearly one lakh Pakistani people living on the borders have deserted their houses due to retaliatory firing by the security forces.
Meanwhile, a day before Diwali festival, an eerie calm prevailed along IB and LoC in all five border districts of Kathua, Jammu, Samba (IB), Rajouri and Poonch (LoC) in Jammu region though it was briefly shattered by the mortar shelling in Paharpur area of Hiranagar sector in Kathua district and Abdullian area of RS Pura sector in Jammu district overnight and during the morning hours.
“However, since this afternoon, there has been no firing or shelling on the IB or LoC in any part of Jammu region excepting two mortar shells that fell in R S Pura sector,” sources said.
A mortar shell fell inside the house of Lambardar Pritam Singh at Paharpur Mada in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district this morning injuring his cattle but the family survived.
But despite lull, majority of people of the border areas, who have shifted to safer locations especially in parts of RS Pura, Arnia, Khour, Pallanwalla, Samba and Hiranagar were not ready to return fearing that it could be trap laid for them by the Rangers.
“No firing on the border by Pakistan could be a trap. They want the civilians to return and then again resort to shelling to cause casualties as Pakistan has suffered very extensive damage in retaliatory firing by the BSF,” the civilians observed.
However, some of them did plan to return to their houses tomorrow to lighten the lamps of Diwali and would take a decision on staying there or return depending upon the situation.
“We will definitely go to our houses, risking our lives, to lighten the lamps and then decide whether to spend Diwali night in the houses or return to the shelter places in safer locations,” most of the people to whom the Excelsior spoke on telephone, said.
Notwithstanding Diwali festival tomorrow, several villages in RS Pura, Khour, Pallanwalla and Arnia sectors remained deserted with people taking shelter in the houses of their relatives and friends or lodgment centres set up for them by the administration.
The BSF said that they were fully prepared to meet with any eventuality on the borders even if today’s silence is lull before the storm.
“We have made it clear that we will not fire the first shot. However, if we are fired upon, then we are not going to count the bullets. Pakistan will be responsible for the consequences of first fire,” sources reiterated.
Meanwhile, Bomb Disposal Squads used peace on the borders to defuse some of the line mortar shells in civilian areas along LoC and IB. However, large number of mortar shells remained lying in the border areas and would be defused in the next couple of days, sources said.
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