In view of the rising tension between India and Pakistan, villagers living near the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region have started preparing for their safety. They are clearing underground bunkers and harvesting crops in the fields located near barbed wires.
The government has built thousands of underground safe shelters in the last few years to protect the residents from the firing of Pakistani soldiers. However, the incidents of ceasefire violations have reduced since 2021.
Security concerns have arisen among the residents
In the year 2021, both the countries renewed the ceasefire agreement, but after the Pahalgam terror attacks, security concerns have arisen among the residents of border areas. Balbir Kaur, former sarpanch of Trewa village in RS Pura sector, said, "Nobody knows what will happen next. We have decided to prepare underground bunkers so that we can protect ourselves in case of firing from across the border."
India shares a 3,323 km long border with Pakistan, of which 221 km of the international border and 744 km of the Line of Control fall in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ready to face any situation
Kaur, who is monitoring the bunker cleaning operation, said that they are ready to face any situation and stand shoulder to shoulder with the army. She said, "We want our government to take decisive action against the terrorists sitting across the border and their masters. We want to eliminate all those who have brutally killed unarmed and innocent civilians."
We are unarmed soldiers
A villager, Seva Ram, said that women are busy cleaning the bunkers, while the men have decided to harvest the standing wheat crop a few days ago. He said, "We are unarmed soldiers and are always ready to face the enemy."
Officials said that similar reports have been received from villages in Samba, Kathua and Poonch and Rajouri districts. Mohammad Farooq, a resident of Salotri village near the Line of Control in Poonch, said, "The situation is tense and we, as always, stand firmly with our soldiers to teach Pakistan a lesson."
Ceasefire violations reported
The border in Jammu region remains peaceful, but ceasefire violations have been reported in the Kashmir Valley for two nights since Thursday. However, there is no news of any casualties in the firing from across the border.