Punjab: Residents of border villages start moving to safer places; don’t panic, says admn

Several residents of villages located along the International Border with Pakistan here started moving to safer places after India struck the terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country in early hours on Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma urged villagers not to panic, saying “no order had been issued to evacuate villages”.

She said the administration was fully alert and prepared to deal with all contingencies. Sharma said senior officials were also sent to counsel villagers.

Meanwhile, several residents were seen shifting to safer places at villages, including Tendi Wala, Kalu Wala, Gatti Rajo Ke, Jhugge Hazara, Navi Gatti Rajo Ke, Gatti Rahime Ke, Chandiwala, Basti Bhanewali and Jallo Ke.

They were seen packing valuables besides food and clothes. Some of the villagers were spotted loading essential items on to tractor-trailers, bullock carts and even motorcycles.

A villager said he was persuaded by his relatives to shift to a “safer place”, apprehending a “war-like situation” between the two countries in upcoming days.

Kakku Singh (63), a resident of Bhambha Haji village in Mamdot, said he had come to meet her two married daughters at Kaluwala village. Kaluwala village is surrounded by the Sutlej on three sides and Pakistan on the fourth.

“When I heard the news about the India’s attack (on the terror infrastructure in Pakistan), I got worried about my daughters and their families. I am taking them to my home till the situation normalises,” he said.

Pachho Bai (58) of Tendi Wala village and her daughter-in-law were seen packing clothes.

Pachho Bai said she was worried as her house was situated just 2 km away from the border. “There are six members in our family. My husband and son have gone to work but we are planning to move to a relative’s place,” she said.

Ranjit Singh, a resident of Gatti Rajo Ke village, said he would drop his three children at a relative’s house at Ali Ke village.

“My wife told me to shift them to a safer place. Though there is no official order asking for evacuation, most villagers are either leaving their homes or sending their loved ones to safer places,” he said.

However, many still have decided to stay back, confident of the armed forces’ capability to defend the country in case of a war. Surjeet Singh of Tendi Wala village said, “We are ready to support our soldiers as the first line of defence.”

Residents recall past wars

Fazilka: A similar situation was witnessed at some of the Fazilka villages. At Pakka Chisti village, situated just 1 km from the International Border, octogenarian Ojha Singh recalled the 1965 and 1971 Wars. He said in 1971, they had to rush for life, leaving behind their livestock and belongings.

He claimed that about 20 persons were made captive by Pakistan in the 1965 War.

At Mohar Jamsher village, former Sarpanch Hansa Singh said several residents had shifted their valuables to their relatives while deciding to stay back until the authorities advised them to leave.