Amid talk of another mock drill, Punjab's border villages stay on alert

Indian Express

2 days ago

The Punjab government has yet to finalise the dates for conducting the mock drill or civil defence exercise under Operation Shield. Still, the mood along the state's international border is one of preparedness and resilience, with villagers saying they are willing to cooperate if another drill is announced.
Punjab shares a 553 km-long border with Pakistan, spanning six districts: Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Fazilka, and Ferozepur. The border districts were on high alert during India's military face-off with Pakistan following the launch of Operation Sindoor after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Tensions eased after both countries agreed to a ceasefire.
'The ceasefire happened on May 10, but we are still on alert,' said Paramjit Singh from Pakka Chisti village in Fazilka. 'Most of our family members are staying in Fazilka city, while I go to the fields that are just metres away from the border. Life seems normal, but one needs to always stay alert. Who else can understand this better than a border villager?'
He added, 'Our village still maintains the discipline of returning home early. Street lights were only switched on this week. If there is another mock drill, let it happen—we are ready. But we hope it is just precautionary; no nation can afford conflict right now.'
Until last week, villagers of Kadar Baksh village in Fazilka district had been sleeping nearly 10 km away from their homes. They used to come back during the day for work and lock up their homes in the evening, as the village is located just 400 metres away from the international border. However, they have now returned, sources said.
'After the announcement of this exercise (the mock drill), people are tense… as if something big is going to happen again. We wish for peace to prevail as in modern-day wars, civilians are at equal risk as our forces, as drones and missiles target civilian areas too, be it in a city or a village,' Gurpreet Singh from Patti Sadik village in Fazilka said.
In Bhakra village of Gatti Rajoke block in Ferozepur district, Vanjar Singh said that people in cities were more alert than villagers now. 'Drones went deep into urban areas like Ferozepur, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, and Pathankot. So life is risky for all, not just us. We have bunkers in nearby areas and are used to adversities. After Operation Sindoor, we sent women and children to our relatives' houses. But now, after seeing drones strike anywhere, we are going to stay put—unless the Army asks us to move,' Vanjar said.
'After the ceasefire, we heard dhol beats from the other side of the border. In response, we played Sidhu Moosewala songs on loudspeakers and held a tractor march. After that, it has been quiet from across the border,' he added.
Vishal Singh from Chak Amir village in Bamiyal block of Pathankot district said the villagers were ready to follow the instructions once issued. 'Street lights were turned on only recently. From May 7 to May 10, we could hear blast sounds—but nothing came toward our side,' he added.
Pargat Singh from Mehdipur village in Amritsar supported regular mock drills, saying, 'These drills are necessary to keep volunteers ready—whether it is a war-like scenario or a natural disaster.'
Paro Bai from Tindiwala village in Ferozepur echoed a similar view. 'The siren systems and evacuation drives must be tested regularly. Any blackout being conducted is likely to be a system check and a test of official coordination,' Bai added.
According to sources, during the heightened tensions in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, sirens in many districts of Punjab did not function properly as they had not been used for decades.
Operation Shield: New dates yet to be announced
The government is likely to conduct a state-wide mock drill and blackout under Operation Shield once the dates are finalised. Citizens will be instructed to switch off all the lights and stay indoors, while mock sirens and emergency response teams will be activated. The operation is designed to prepare both civilians and authorities for coordinated responses in the event of aerial threats or emergencies, especially in light of increased drone activity in border states.
The mock drill was scheduled to take place on May 29 but was postponed due to administrative reasons. While initially, the Punjab government had said that the drill would be held on June 3, a press statement issued late Wednesday evening said that the new dates for the exercise would be announced later.
Leaders visit border villages
Meanwhile, Jai Inder Kaur, president of the BJP Mahila Morcha, visited border villages in Fazilka on Wednesday to interact with residents and understand their concerns. She was accompanied by Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar. 'We visited many villages close to the international border and heard their grievances. We will take up their issues with higher authorities,' Jakhar said. The issues raised were related to compensation for crop loss on land across the barbed wire, farming restrictions, lack of employment opportunities, etc.