Amid calm at J&K borders, life limps back to normalcy

No fresh ceasefire violations reported till the filing of the report

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria & Ashiq Hussain

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Normalcy was limping back to the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, much to the relief of locals who woke up in a peaceful atmosphere on Sunday morning having witnessed the first night in nearly a week without the sound of cross-border artillery and mortal shelling, and missile and drone attacks, officials said on Sunday.

The guns on either side of the border fell silent around 10.30 pm on Saturday, hours after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB). According to defence officials, no fresh violation of ceasefire or drone activity was reported till the filing of this report.

"The Pakistani guns fell silent around 10.30 pm on Saturday. Since then, there has been no fresh firing. The peace has always been fragile in Jammu and Kashmir. Though we have resumed our normal life, we hope Pakistan doesn't vitiate the atmosphere," said 42-year-old Madan Lal, a resident of Akhnoor in Jammu district.

Officials maintained that an uneasy calm prevailed on the borders, especially along the LoC in the worst-hit twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, throughout the night. Thousands of people, who had fled their villages on the border and took refuge in camps set up by the government, were returning to their homes after the announcement of ceasefire.

"We have returned to our homes to tend to our cattle and resume farming. We have resumed our normal lives and hope that this ceasefire is honoured by Pakistan. Having said so, a rogue Pakistan controlled by its army can never be trusted. India must remain prepared for any mischief," said Vikram Choudhary, 35, from Chandu Chak village on the IB in RS Pura sector.

Hari Singh from Khour expressed similar sentiments.

"Soon after the announcement of ceasefire, we returned to our homes but small arms firing by Pakistan till 10.30 pm certainly gave us some anxious moments," Singh added.