AMRITSAR(PTI): Fencing and floodlighting of the Indo Pakistan border in Punjab has checked in filtration of militants and smuggling of arms and other contraband goods.
This is the general feeling of in habitants of the border villages which a group of journalists from Delhi visited recently.
Of the total 433.90 km long Punjab border with Pakistan, 377,15 km had been fenced and floodlit. Along the 10 feet high barbed wire fencing, gates have been provided at certain in points to enable farmers to go beyond it during day time for farming.
Kuldip Singh, a former Sarpanch of border village of Naserdallah with a population of about 5,000, said the fencing had badly affected farmers who had to go beyond the fencing for farming. The farmers were subjected to rigorous security checks and they were not allowed beyond the point in foggy weather.
Kuldip Singh, a former army personnel, complained that the farmers were not paid adequate compensation for the areas acquired for fencing and floodlighting.
According to one of the super intendants of police (operations), H.R.Banga, villages in Majitha district adjoining the border areas who had deserted these places in panic three or four years ago had returned,
Most of the militants were either eliminated or surrendered to the police.
The chief secretary to Punjab government, A.S.Chatha and the director general of police, KP.S.Gillsaid“a definite change” in the situation was noticed and there was “remarkable decline” in the militant activity.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 30, 1993
