R S Pura Sector:
The new defence structures including bundh and bunkers constructed by Pakistan is worrying the border farmers.
Life returned to normal in the border village after the November 2003 Indo-Pak ceasefire and farming is taking place right upto the zero line ever since. But now the horrors of pre-ceasefire times have returned to haunt.
Madan Gopal expects a bumper crop this year. But he's unhappy and afraid. His land is right next to the international border in Jammu.
Everyday, new defensive structures constructed by Pakistan remind Madan Gopal of the pre-2003 days when daily exchange of artillery fire between India and Pakistan had driven out farmers like him.
"In the coming times, the farmers will suffer great losses, because the bundh was at a distance earlier on, so we didn't have any difficulties. But the bundh will cause lot of losses now," said Madan Gopal.
Taking advantage of peace along the border, Pakistan has been building defensive structures including a bundh and some concrete bunkers in violation of agreed terms between the two sides. More worryingly, the pace of construction has picked up after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
In response, the BSF has also taken certain measures.
The border fence has been relocated and moved right on the zero line, but Pakistan has come up with its own defence structures like an obtrusive bundh.
The six-year long truce along the border has allowed farmers of the area to prosper once again but with Pakistan raising the temperatures, peace may not last too long.