Samba admn cancels annual Chamliyal Mela
› Decision was taken after police, BSF and other security agencies cited volatile situation on the border. TILAK RAJ SHARMA, additional deputy commissioner, Samba
JAMMU: The annual Baba Chamliyal Mela—an epitome of communal harmony & brotherhood— in Ramgarh sector of the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district has been cancelled due to security reasons, district officials said on Friday.
Additional deputy commissioner of Samba district Tilak Raj Sharma said, “In the view of security scenario along the International Border (IB), the annual fair will not be held this year. The decision was taken after police, Border Security Force (BSF) and other security agencies cited volatile situation on the border.”
The Chamliyal shrine in Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba district was perhaps the most silent and serene place on “live” Indo-Pak International Border where Pakistan Rangers, on behalf of the people of Pakistan, had been offering a “Chaddar” (a ceremonial cloth) and sweets and BSF in turn had been giving them “shakkar” (holy soil) and sharbat (holy water) that many believe cures skin related ailments.
The shrine had been an example of harmony and brotherhood among different sects, faiths and religions from India and Pakistan. Pak Rangers and thousands of people usually take part in the three-day long annual fair that begins on last Thursday of June every year.
Another official informed that in view of the rising hostilities, there will be no exchange of ‘chaddar, shakkar and sharbat’ this year.
On June 12, the Rangers in gross violation of ceasefire agreement had killed four BSF men close to the shrine.
BSF Jammu frontier inspector general Ram Awtar refused to share the details of sector commander-level flag meet held on Thursday at Octroi post at RS Pura. “We can't share the details of the flag meet but we all know what has happened on the IB in recent time,” he said in an oblique reference to the killing of four BSF men near the Chamliyal shrine.
“BSF had never extended invitation to the Rangers. It depends upon the civil administration and the mela committee. The situation is tense on the IB and it is not advisable to have Rangers in the Mela,” Awtar said.
“All incidents of unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistan are aimed at disturbing peace on the International Border but such heavy casualties of our men have not happened before. They are always unreliable,” said a senior BSF officer.
Notably on June 22 last year, when Rangers were exchanging sweets and niceties with BSF officers at the Chamliyal shrine, Pakistan’s BAT had killed two Indian soldiers in KG sector of Poonch in a trans-LoC raid in Chakan-da-Bagh area. In retaliation, the Indian Army had killed two Pakistanis, who were part of the BAT.
ABOUT CHAMLIYAL SHRINE AND DEVOTEES
The shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas is also called Baba Chamliyal on either side of the border. A three-day fair in memory of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas is being held on last Thursday of June every year. Folklore has it that Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, a saintly soul deeply revered by people from different faiths, was ambushed and killed by criminals.The fair is being celebrated for over 300 years now.