1 Killed, 9 Hurt as Unidentified Aircraft Crashes in Bathinda

Residents of villages in Hussainiwala sector, Khemkaran in Punjab—Uri, Poonch, Kupwara in J&K—have started moving out

- Vishal Joshi

[e-mail] KHEMKARAN/FEROZEPUR/BARAMULLA: People in some border villages of Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir began moving to safer areas amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan.

According to reports, residents of villages, particularly around Punjab's Hussainiwala sector, located just 13km from Ferozepur, have begun evacuating voluntarily following the Indian Armed forces successfully carrying out targeted strikes on nine "terrorist infrastructure" in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

Similar reports were received from the Khemkaran area, which saw intense action during the 1965 war. Most of the border villagers have shifted their children and women members to safer places. The war-like situation is not new for the people of Khemkaran area. They have seen similar evacuations during the 1965 and 1971 wars with the most recent being the 1999 Kargil war. Kasur-Khemkaran axes saw one of the biggest tank battles post-Second World War, with Pakistan suffering significant losses. The engagement at Asal Uttar is recognised as a turning point in the 1965 war.

In the markets of Khemkaran, a historic small town, it was business as usual with people seen shopping and going about their day-to-day routine. In the Kalas village, youths and other men were huddled discussing the possible scenarios.

Several gates of the houses in the village, a few yards from the zero line, were locked with the families moving to safer areas.

"Many have sent children and women to the safer places. However, almost all the men are staying behind," Balwinder Singh said, adding: "We stand with the Indian Army which has avenged the Pahalgam attack. Killing civilians in cold blood is a cowardly act. So, what has been done by the army is good."

Another resident Sukhchain Singh said, "We cannot abandon our houses and livestock".