Border villagers
DAOKE/NAUSHEHRA DHALLA (PAKISTAN BORDER): At every village along Pakistan, they are talking about past wars and praising the Narendra Modi government. They are also packing their bags and battling their fears.
After the army’s surgical strikes on terror camps across the Line of Control (LOC), orderly evacuation began in 333 Amritsar villages in 10-kilometre radius of the Pakistan border. Since the message flashed on gurdwara loudspeakers, 20% of the population — mostly women, children, and aged people — has left for safer areas. Showing great morale, the men have stayed back to support the soldiers.
Long queues built up for panic buying of fuel. In Attari, the first petrol-filling station after the border received its biggest rush on Thursday. Buyers carried even drums and any empty bottle they could find. Everybody wanted a full tank.
At Daoke village, people were gathered on the streets and discussing where to go. The bags over their heads and the women in tow reminded them of the 1965 and 1971 wars. “We are not scared,” said villager Suba Singh (70), “but leaving immediately isn’t easy.” Villager Gurdev Singh said: “The crop is ready and, if there is no harvesting, we are finished. We aren’t scared of war but displacement is a concern.”
The district administration led by deputy commissioner Varun Roojam had a long meeting after the evacuation orders came from Chandigarh. Officers are still trying to convince people to flee a possible Pakistani retaliation. But those living close to the fence have only two small concerns — their crop and cattle.
Paramjit Kaur, who had come to her mother’s house was going back to Amritsar. “It is no more safe at the village,” she said. At Naushehra Dhalla in Tarn Taran district, evacuation is moderate though.
“I am not going anywhere,” said Hardev Singh, whose house is close to the fence. “Let war come. The Indian forces should have struck back earlier. The young men of my village will support them.”
Police are helping with evacuation and Akali legislator Harmeet Sandhu went to Naushehra Dhallla to ask people to stay vigilant.
TENTS FOR THOSE EVACUATED
The district administration has arranged for tents for those evacuated, cleared beds in the government hospitals, and converted schools and marriages palaces into makeshift shelters.
“We have sent officers to villages for evacuation,” deputy commissioner Varun Roojam said here on Thursday. “Food and medical help are also available. We are ready for any situation.” The subdivisional magistrates (SDMs) of Amritsar and Ajnala are looking after the displaced people and senior police officers had met to discuss security of the border zone across the Majha region.