Retreat ceremony resumes; BSF lets farmers access fields across fence
The Border Security Force (BSF) has, after a gap of over 25 days, lifted restrictions on farmers accessing their agricultural land located across the barbed-wire fence along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. The border force also allowed the public to view the beating retreat ceremony at the Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki borders with Pakistan, 12 days after it was stopped following Operation Sindoor by India in response to the Pahalgam attack.
The BSF had initially said the Tuesday's ceremony was open only for media persons and that the public can participate from Wednesday. However, it allowed the public too at the ceremony at Wagah after a large number of visitors congregated there.
During the flag lowering ceremony, there were no handshakes between the BSF troops and Pakistani Rangers and the international gates on both sides remained shut during the flag-lowering process. The BSF on May 8 had stopped public entry ton the event at the three locations, citing 'public safety'.
The flag, however, was being lowered each day by the troops irrespective of the public presence. The flag is lowered every evening by BSF troops in synchronisation with Pakistan Rangers at the three border points.
Meanwhile, farmers are yet to resume work in their fields despite the relaxation coming into effect Monday.
Nearly 21,600 acres of land belonging to farmers from 220 villages lie between the barbed-wire fence and the international border, within Indian territory. These lands fall in the six border districts— Ferozepur, Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Amritsar. The six districts together share 553 km border with Pakistan.
Vanjar Singh, a farmer from Gatti Rajoke block in Ferozepur, said, 'After the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22 and the capture of a BSF jawan by Pakistan Rangers on April 23 in the Mamdot sector, we were asked to finish wheat harvesting quickly. From the end of April, we were unofficially barred from going across the fence and afterwards, the border conflict happened.'
Parkash Singh from Tindiwala village said, 'We managed to complete the harvesting, but couldn't collect the straw, which is vital cattle fodder. Now the question is whether the BSF will give us enough time to do so, especially with paddy transplantation approaching from June 1.'
In summer, the BSF permits movement across the fence between 8 am and 5 pm under strict security oversight. BSF protocol requires two kisan guards to accompany each tractor crossing the fence. This limits how many farmers can access their fields daily, leading to concerns that some may be forced to burn the stubble given the time constraint.
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