CHANDIGARH, India: The proposal for a security belt along the Indo Pak Border in Punjab which had been shelved because of the stiff opposition from the Akali government is being revived according to authorities sources. The Belt is considered essential in view of the possibility of freedom fighters making a bid to cross over to Pakistan under pressure from security forces from Punjab.
The Punjab government has received a report that some freedom fighters including A.I.S.S.F. leader Gurjit Singh may have reached a neighboring country. Last year, under article 249 of the Constitution, the Center tried to create a security belt but the proposal had to be dropped when the Barnala government threatened to resign on the issue. The proposal is being revived again as the State is under Presidential rule.
The security belt now will not be all along the contours of the border but form a 20 meter wide
State patrolling area from Daera Baba Nanak to Fazilka. The distance of the belt from the border will depend on the contour ranging between 50 meters to 3 km. Apart from paramilitary forces the State belt is likely to be manned by the army also, if needed. Authorities sources pointed out that waterways along the border including Ravi and Sutlej rivers which enter into Pakistan territory were potential means of escape. These waterways along with border will also be adequately guarded. There is however, one snag in the proposal. The government will have to acquire the whole territory between the belt and the border as it will be more or less no man’s land. Anybody seen in the territory would be shot and this would require large scale relocation of the civil population that would be displayed from there. All crowded towns are being taken into consideration about the proposal. Preliminary discussions have been held between the Centre and the Punjab government.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1987
