This Article is From Aug 22, 2014

For a Good Night's Rest, They Huddle In Bunkers: Life At the LoC

Villagers hide in bunkers to escape shelling from Pakistan

Trewa, Jammu and Kashmir: Just after dinner, people of village Trewa in Jammu and Kashmir slink into a narrow bunker with their families.

Men, women and children, all squeeze into a space meant for a little more than a dozen people. Moments later, the shelling and firing begins.

Only a few can spread out on the ground to sleep; the rest sit or stand. They take turns on watch duty.

The spurt in firing from Pakistan has taken these villagers back in time, back to the nineties when attacks from across the border were a daily feature.

In the past 12 days, there have been 14 incidents - 70 since the Narendra Modi government took charge in May.

Villagers near the border have been driven to abandoned bunkers which haven't been used for nearly 10 years.

The hideouts are being cleaned up for fresh use. There are dozens of them, hidden behind bushes and mounds, their entrance just wide enough to let in one person at a time.

Hundreds of people migrated from their villages close to the International Border in the 1990s, during the peak of militancy in the state.

After the ceasefire of 2003 between both countries, many border residents returned home. Many of them are wondering if life will ever be normal.

"All our kids huddle together, close to the walls of the underground bunker when shelling becomes intense; we take shelter in bunkers with our children", said Joginder Paul Resident from Arnia in RS Pura sector.

Border hostilities have directly impacted the peace process. India this week suspended talks with Pakistan over its envoy's meetings with Kashmiri separatists and the spike in ceasefire violations.

There are inputs that militants are regrouping across the border to sneak into India in large numbers.

"Groups across the border are waiting for a chance but our boys are very, very alert and the border is well-guarded. We are also retaliating", said Rakesh Sharma a senior officer of the Border Security Force.
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