After India-Pakistan conflict, Punjab farmers allowed to access fields across barbed wire under BSF watch
The Border Security Force (BSF) has lifted restrictions on farmers accessing their agricultural land located beyond the barbed-wire fence along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab after a gap of over 25 days following the tension with the neighbouring country.
While the relaxation came into effect Monday, farmers said they have not resumed work as BSF's Kisan guards are yet to accompany them during their visits.
Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal is learnt to have recently approached BSF officials to lift the restrictions.
Farmers have welcomed this much-needed move by BSF.
Vanjar Singh, a farmer from Gatti Rajoke block in Ferozepur, said, 'After the Pahalgam incident 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 harvesting quickly. From the end of April, we were unofficially barred from going across the fence, and afterwards, the border conflict happened in May.'
Parkash Singh from Tindiwala village said, 'We managed to complete wheat harvesting, but couldn't collect wheat straw, which is vital cattle fodder. Now the question is whether BSF will give us enough time to do so, especially with paddy transplantation approaching from June 1.'
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 wheat stubble due to time constraints. In summer, BSF permits movement across the fence between 8 am and 5 pm under strict security oversight.
Nearly 21,600 acres of farmland 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 — which together span 553 km along the Pakistan border and have over 1,800 villages. The total agricultural area in these districts is around 15 to 17 lakh hectares.
Farmers of all the border districts have thanked the military for Operation Sindoor, with many villages holding a victory march in Fazilka last week.
From Tuesday, people have also been allowed to see the Beating Retreat ceremony at the Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadki borders in Punjab.
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