Amid tensions, farmers along Indo-Pak border asked to harvest crops within 2 days
Pahalgam massacre
, announcements were made on Saturday from the gurdwaras in villages along the Indo-Pak international border asking the farmers to harvest their wheat crop from the fields located beyond the border fence within two days.
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The move evoked memories of the tense atmosphere that prevailed ahead of 'Operation Parakram', when India mobilised its troops along the Pakistan border following the deadly terrorist attack on Parliament on Dec 13, 2001.
According to local sources, asking farmers to harvest crops from fields located beyond the border fence is a part of the precautionary measures. This is to ensure better visibility and monitoring of enemy troops across the international border, while also preventing potential crop losses in case restrictions on movement across the fence are imposed due to the prevailing situation, they said.
Farmer leader Rattan Singh Randhawa said the announcements were made in several border villages, including Roranwala and Bharopal Bhaini. "We are not in favour of war, but it is the preparedness," he said.
Recalling the past events of 2001, a farmer from Attari village, Balkar Singh, informed that during Operation Parakram, several villages within a radius of 7-10 km were evacuated, and the Army laid landmines to deter any forward movement by the enemy forces.
"Even then, announcements were made from village gurdwaras," he said.
A BSF official, meanwhile, confirmed that heavy security arrangements had been put in place along the international border with Pakistan in Punjab. "We are taking every possible preventive measure to counter any potential misadventure from across the border," said the officer.
Randhawa informed that over 2,500 acres of farmland was beyond the border fence, adding that in the past, whenever there was tension between the two countries, similar steps were taken as a precautionary measure.
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An official statement, though, clarified that the BSF had denied making any such announcement. Deputy commissioner Sakshi Sawhney appealed to the public to ignore rumours and to verify any information through official channels.
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