BSF reopens gates for farmers near zero line

BSF on May 8 had stopped public entry for the event over safety concerns

- HT Correspondent

AMRITSAR: Beating Retreat ceremonies at all three border checkposts in Punjab on the India-Pakistan international border—Attari-Wagah (Amritsar), Hussainwala (Ferozepur) and Sadki (Fazilka)—will resume from Tuesday onwards, the BSF officials said on Monday.

However, the ceremony will be curtailed as BSF troops will not shake hands with Pakistan Rangers, and the gates will not be opened during the flag-lowering process as declared earlier, they said. It is important to mention that the flag was being lowered each day by BSF troops since May 8 but only the public entry was cancelled, the officials clarified.

The BSF on May 8 had stopped public entry for this event at these three locations in view of "public safety". The decision was taken a day after India destroyed nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military offensive against the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

The announcement came big respite for villages near the Attari-Wagah border whose livelihood depended on tourists who came to see the Beating Retreat ceremony and also