Farmers at loggerheads with BSF over border gate opening schedule

TARN TARAN : After being irked over the gate-opening schedule of the 87 Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) at the IndoPakistan border, farmers of Tarn Taran, whose farmlands are situated across the barbed fence, are at loggerheads with the BSF.

The farmers of Dall village, 35 km from here, under the banner of the Punjab Border Kisan Welfare Society (PBKWS), had staged a dharna at the Dall border outpost on Tuesday till late night demanding opening at least two of the three gates daily at every border outpost of 87 Battalion to enable them cultivate their land for paddy.

However, the Tarn Taran police booked seven of the protesting farmers for staging a dharna and deterring the BSF from discharging duty. Those booked are Sikandar Singh, Angrej Singh, Dyal Singh, Harjit Singh, Sardool Singh, Karamjit Singh and Roop Singh of Dall village. State president of the PBKWS Surjit Singh Bhura said 87 Battalion has 6 border outposts in the district and each post has access to three or more gates at the barbed fence.

He said the personnel deployed at each post have been opening gates one by one daily keeping others two or more gates closed, due to which farmers are able to visit their land only once in three days as every farmer has permission for a particular gate. He said at least two gates should be opened daily at each post

LABOUR IDENTITY PROOF PROBLEM

He said another issue of the other problem the farmers are facing is that the battalion’s personnel ask for photographs and identity proof of the labourers while allowing them to cross the fence with farmers for labour work due to which not many labourers are coming forward.

The farmer leader said farmers have to hire different labourers everyday and it is not possible for them to collect identity cards and photographs of labourers.

He alleged that only 87 Battalion has been imposing such restrictions on border farmers only to ‘harass’ them.

There are 50 farmers of Dall village owing around 200 acres of land across the fence. Farmers ‘resolved’ on Thursday not to cultivate their land and carry on a protest against the BSF till both the issues are solved.

Commandant of 87 Battalion Rakesh Rajdan, however, said he was not aware of any dharna of farmers nor he was aware about the case registered against seven farmers.

“If anyone has any grievance, they can meet me,” he said.

POLICE ON THURSDAY BOOKED SEVEN OF THE PROTESTING FARMERS FOR STAGING A DHARNA AND DETERRING BSF FROM DISCHARGING THEIR DUTY