A day after the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan decided to ensure peace on the borders between the two countries, calm prevailed on Wednesday on both the international border and the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Nearly 50,000 residents of border villages in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts had migrated out of their homes because of indiscriminate targeting of civilian and military facilities by Pakistan rangers.
The ceasefire violations had also spread to the LoC in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts of the state after the violations continued on the international border for nearly a fortnight.
Reports from Pakistan-controlled areas also indicated that heavy losses in terms of military and civilian lives were suffered there in retaliatory action by the Indian troops.
Border residents on the Indian side of the international border were put up by local administration in makeshift camps set up in schools, Panchayats and community halls even when most of these migrants preferred to live with relatives in areas away from the border.
The decision of the DGMOs to hold fire has come as a glimmer of hope for farmers whose crops have started shedding grain for want of being harvested.
Children have not gone to schools for nearly a fortnight in these areas.
As calm returned to both the LoC and the international border on Wednesday, authorities have decided to watch the situation for a few days before they order re-opening of schools and shifting back of the migrants.
"Once bitten, twice shy. Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope that the ceasefire holds for thousands of residents on both sides of the border," said Satpal, 49, a resident of R.S.Pura sector in Jammu district.
R.S.Pura sector suffered human losses, cattle heads and damages to homes and crops during the last fortnight.
--IANS
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