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New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Anxiety prevails among residents of border villages along Indo-Pak border in Punjab, yet they remain undeterred
CHANDIGARH: Anxiety and panic prevail among residents of villages located along the Indo-Pak international border in Punjab following 'Operation Sindoor'. However, they remain undeterred since they have faced such conflicts in the past, too. The 553-km long international border stretches across six districts of the state -- Ferozepur, Fazilka, Taran Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Amritsar. Approximately 45,000 acres of land are across the fence, thus creating a unique challenge for the border farmers. The farmers are yet to finish post-harvesting activities in their fields located between the border fence and the zero line. The Border Security Force (BSF) has closed the entry gates for them since May 4. Speaking to this newspaper, Surjit Singh Bhoora, Vice President, Borer Area Kisan Union, said that apart from making cattle feed from wheat straw, levelling the fields ahead of the paddy season is pending. "The local authorities and BSF have not told the villagers to evacuate the villages, but the villagers are in panic, and a few of them say that they will shift children and women to safer places. Whenever tension escalates along the border, farmers whose land is situated beyond the barbed fence become the worst sufferers," he said. "Post-harvesting work was delayed due to rainfall in the past few days. The wheat straw got wet. It will take time to dry up. It delayed the process of making cattle feed from it,'' he added.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: BSF restricts movement of farmers beyond border fence
Even as farmers are yet to finish post-harvesting works in their fields situated in the sensitive zone between the border fence and the zero line, the BSF has closed the entry gates for them. Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead last week, the BSF had around 10 days ago issued an urgent directive to farmers along the India-Pakistan border to complete harvesting of wheat and clear their fields within 48 hours. It was a unique challenge for Punjab's border farmers who cultivate approximately 45,000 acres across the 530-km international boundary. A field along Pakistan border near Amritsar. (PTI file) Though the BSF allowed the farmers to work for more days, the gates were closed on Sunday. 'The rainfall witnessed in the past few days delayed the post-harvesting work. The wheat straw got wet. It will take time to dry up. It delayed the process of making cattle feed from it. Secondly, they are to prepare the fields for paddy sowing. The farmers need one week more to finish the work in their fields. The farmers will get full power supply on June 3. A period of less than a month is left for it,' said Rattan Singh Randhawa, a leader of border farmers in Amritsar. 'We are peace-loving people. We oppose war between both countries. The gates should be opened. People of the border belt are repeatedly telling the BSF that they will fully cooperate and support them in case any war-like situation arises. So, they should be allowed to work in their fields until a grim situation arises,' he added. Another farmer, Surjit Singh Bhoora, said, 'Apart from making cattle feed from the wheat straw, levelling the fields ahead of paddy season is the pending work. Some other small tasks need to be done. This is the time to do so. The BSF should not have closed the gates yet as farmers are standing with the BSF if the circumstances take an ugly turn along the international border.' 'Whenever tension escalates along the border, farmers whose land is situated beyond the barbed fence and other border people become the worst sufferers, notwithstanding they stand with the nation. It is unfortunate that the successive governments never address their concerns. For instance, the BSF has closed the gates, but the government is not providing anything to compensate the farmers,' he added. Another border farmer, Raghbir Singh, from Bhangala village said, '60% work is pending in the fields. What should we give to our livestock if we are not able to make their feed? We have raised the issue with a senior officer of the BSF. He has assured that our demand will be addressed.' Sources said the gates were closed keeping in view the arrest of a Pakistan Ranger by the BSF at the Rajasthan border on Sunday. A few days before that, Rangers had caught a BSF man in Ferozepur district of Punjab. So, there is an apprehension that Pakistan Rangers may detain Indian farmer working in the fields. 'If there is any apprehension, our security can be enhanced,' added Bhangala A BSF official, requesting anonymity, said the gates have been closed in view of the farmers' security. Farmers said some of them may stage a demonstration in the coming days demanding opening of the gates.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Complete harvesting and clear fields within 48 hours: BSF tells Punjab farmers amid Indo-Pak tensions
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab farmers who have lands between the India-Pakistan border have been allegedly told to complete harvesting and clear their fields within 48 hours by Border Security Force (BSF) officials on Saturday. This comes amid the tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in which However, the local administration and BSF has denied issuing any such directive. Village gurdwaras across Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Fazilka districts allegedly made announcements warning farmers to cut their wheat crops and store them within 48 hours. Announcements were also made warning that the access gates to forward areas would soon be closed, potentially cutting off access to their lands indefinitely if the situation deteriorates further. This directive comes at a time when the wheat harvesting is already delayed in some areas and most farmers have completed primary harvesting. Farmers are still yet to process wheat straw for cattle fodder, a year-round necessity for border communities. The farmers have approximately 45,000 acres of land between the border fence in the Indian side and the zero line on the India-Pakistan international border in the 530-kilometre international border in the Punjab sector. Talking to TNIE, Surjit Singh Bhoora, vice president of Punjab Border Area Kisan Union, said, "The BSF officers have not given any directive in writing but told the farmers to clear the fields at the earliest by Monday evening." The local officers (company commanders) called the meeting of the concerned farmers at various places and told them about the two-day deadline to harvest wheat, and warned them about closing the gates. The farmers have also been told that they are allowed to carry more machines to the fields along the border to finish the work at the earliest. "80 to 90 per cent of wheat harvesting is over, but it is challenging to harvest and collect the straw, which is later used as cattle fodder within such a short time frame of 48 hours,'' he said. "Harvesting wheat in two days is next to impossible. The sword of closing the gates is hanging over us, and there is uncertainty about when to sow the paddy in the coming days if tensions escalate," said Sarabjit Singh Kals of Kals village Tarantaran district. Nasib Singh of Palha village Ferozepur district said, "The cattle feed is essential for a farmer and is used throughout the year, and the farmers should be allowed to go into their fields and work as long as the situation is peaceful.'' Sources in the BSF said that this kind of directive has been verbally given to the farmers as part of increased security measures. "We understand the concerns of our farmers,'' said a BSF official on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, Sakshi Sawhney, said that no such announcements were made on behalf of the BSF. She also said that it was a rumour that the BSF had directed the harvesting of the wheat beyond the barbed wire within two days in border villages. "We urge the people to disregard such baseless rumors and verify information through official channels. The farmers are advised to clarify any such news with patwaris, tehsildars, or district administration officers', she added. "The farmers might have been misconstrued by some persons regarding the message following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the farmers have been just asked to complete their work before the intense heat wave,'' said a senior BSF official.
