Some call them frontline warriors, others say them nationalist, soldiers and a strong wall of the country but the reality of life of people living along borders is very agonizing. For Border residents, whether it is peacetime or war, the difficulties remain the same and their adrenal levels seldom come to normal range because scare and tension are always looming large as one day they are settled community and the other, they have to become refugees in their own country as hostile neighbour's unpredictable follies decide about the status of the lives.
In these flip flops of life, another order by the local government has removed charm from their lives although the order is quite necessary looking into the situation prevailing on the International Border with Pakistan indulging in misadventure of unprovoked firing. It reminds the border people about the horrendous yesteryears when cross border firing was a norm and the people were forced to live in makeshift places to save lives and property although immovable assets were at risk as Pakistani firing spared none.
As per the reports, looking into the recent incidents of unprovoked Pak firing, the Jammu District administration has ordered the ban on sale and use of firecrackers within a radius of five kilometres from the International Border and the Line of Control with immediate effect. And it has been made clear that the same will continue till further orders.
Notably, the government has banned the sale and use of firecrackers under Section 144 and given strict instructions that anyone found violating the aforesaid order will be dealt with firmly. It is pertinent to mention that on October 17 and 26, Pakistan Rangers shelled border villages by firing unprovoked in Arnia and Bishnah sectors of Jammu forcing residents to move to safer locations for shelter.
No doubt that bursting of crackers is not that important for sustaining life but in family celebrations and of course during the upcoming Diwali festival, significance of fire crackers is known to one and all, and with this ban in place, the people will surely get disappointed although looking into the gravity of situation, the government has taken the precautionary step.
As it is often seen that the fireworks are taking place on a large scale during the wedding season and it leads to confusion and misunderstanding among the security forces close to the international border therefore, the people should follow the instructions in the right spirit.
