Fencing isolates two villages on the India-Pak border

Ferozepur, March 8 (ANI): People of Mahar Jamsher and Dilawar Bheni villages have been isolated due to wrong fencing in 1984, with the result they villagers feel that they are half in India and half in Pakistan.

The two villages were mistakenly left as part of Pakistan during the border fencing in 1984. Later, when the mistake was discovered, a fresh fence was erected which made matters worse.

Pointing out the helplessness of the situation, Karnail Singh, village head of Dilawar Bheni said, " When we approached the district authority and pointed out the wrong fencing, they identified the villages and made fencing on both sides of the villages, near the zero line. Now we are fenced on both sides of the village."

Describing the situation in the villages, Satnam Singh, a villager said, ". At present we are half in Pakistan and half in India."

Bounded by a fence, some 200 families, who live a lonely life, have taken up farming as their primary occupation.

The residents do not enjoy a social life and even an emergency call becomes impossible post noon as the gates get shut due security reasons.

The irony of the situation is that the guests who come to meet the villagers have to wait outside and need the sanction from the village head.

People of the villages are asking for access to a hospital and schooling from primary to a secondary level.

A rivulet near the fence is another hurdle which villagers have to cross . There is a temporary bridge built by the security forces.

The Border Security Forces try their level best to help the villagers in cases of an emergency. The people, however, feel isolated and live a distant and bleak life. By Narinder Jagga (ANI)