Fearing escalation, farmers harvest wheat across barbed wire fencing on a war footing

Border farmers having landholdings across the barbed wire fencing along the zero line on the Indo-Pakistan border have been harvesting their wheat crop on a “war footing” in apprehension of any aggression on the frontier.

Around 6,800 acres of fertile land falls across the border fence in this sector, which is mostly used for sowing traditional crops due to restrictions along the border.

In all, nearly 20,000 acres of agriculture land lies across the fencing along the Indo-Pakistan border in Punjab.

The farmers here have expedited the crop harvesting process but are concerned as they have not managed to remove the entire crop residue, which is used as fodder.

On Saturday, the BSF reportedly got announcements made through village gurdwaras asking the farmers to clear the fields within 48 hours. The BSF has, however, denied issuing any official order to the farmers for the early harvesting of wheat.

BSF jawans open the gates allowing the farmers to go beyond the fencing around 9 am. They have to come back before 5 pm. However, these days, the BSF is giving them extra time to complete the work.

In certain pockets, the farmers have to take agricultural equipment, including tractor-trailers and harvesting machines to their fields after crossing the Sutlej using a wooden “bera” (floating platform), which poses a risk but the hapless farmers have no way out as their land is sandwiched between the river on the one side and Pakistan on the other.

The BSF said it was extending all support to the farmers and the security had been beefed up so that they did not panic over the evolving situation in the aftermath of the Pehalgam terror attack.

“Whenever the situation between India and Pakistan becomes tense, farmers living along the border are the worst affected. However, we always support our forces and will continue to do so,” said Gurjant Singh of Gatti Rahime Ke village.

Punjab