Return of the native in Punjab border villages

Dreading Indo-Pak escalation, villagers had moved out to safer areas though no official evacuation order was issued

- HARPREET BAJWA @Chandigarh

FOLLOWING a ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan, those fleeing or who have fled the border villages of Punjab have started returning to their homes.

Punjab, which shares an over 500-kilometre border with Pakistan, has a volatile history with the neighbour. After tensions between the two countries intensified, many had left the region though there was no official evacuation order from district administrations.

Earlier, many—especially women and children—were seen shifting out of their villages with their beds, home appliances, and sacks on grains lodged atop wagons pulled by tractors. Some even moved the cattle they reared. Most were headed to their relatives' homes in the hinterlands, far away from the border.

It is learned that they are already home or are on the return journey.