Post the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 persons lost their lives, many ‘rumours’ have been making rounds in social media and otherwise also over escalation of tension between India and Pakistan along borders. The need of the time is not to believe in these concocted stories keeping in mind that not believing in rumours is a solid rule to live by. Rumours usually carry more drama than truth.
In this regard, the case of Punjab farmers is right now the talk of the town because the tiller community having their land chunks between the border fence on the Indian side and the zero line on the India-Pakistan international border have been allegedly told to complete harvesting and clear their fields within 48 hours. What is intriguing is the fact that reportedly the local administration and BSF has denied issuing any such directive.
Reports have been suggesting that village Gurdwaras across Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Fazilka districts have allegedly made announcements warning farmers to harvest crop 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. As the local authorities and the BSF have denied giving any such instructions, it becomes necessary that the government should come clear on the issue and provide the right and up-to-date information to the people. Similar reports have also been pouring in from the Jammu region where allegedly people have been asked to clean the bunkers made by the government.
There is another important development which has taken place recently and that is the government directive to media outlets to refrain from live coverage of defence operations and movement of security forces following the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Going by all this, it becomes necessary for the media houses and the common man to act sensibly and keep a liaison with local authorities as believing rumours can be detrimental in many ways. Taking into account the critical circumstances, mature handling of the situation is the right path indeed and therefore every single entity in J&K and for that matter across the country should take steps with great care.
