Normalcy returning to Rajouri's border villages

Rajouri, May 17: Normalcy is slowly returning to the border villages of Rajouri district after the ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire has brought a sense of relief to the locals and the farmers have started resuming their agriculture works. The areas of Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch witnessed intense skirmishes and war like situation with heavy cross border shelling. Not only the border areas but towns of twin districts including Poonch, Surankote, Mendhar, Rajouri, Nowshera and Manjakote came under heavy artillery shelling.

Due to severe skirmishes, fear was seen among people in dozens of villages along the LoC with farming activities had come to a standstill due to the shelling. However, with the guns falling silent, farmers have begun sowing maize crop seeds and other seasonal crops.

The practice is expected to gain momentum in the coming days, provided the weather remains favorable and the LoC situation stays calm." The resumption of agriculture works is a welcome sign for the border communities, who are largely dependent on farming for their livelihood," said Sony Sharma, a farmer from border villages Mankote in Rajouri.

The uneasy calm prevailing on the borders has given the locals a much-needed breather, and they are hopeful that the peace will hold, allowing them to focus on their daily lives and livelihoods, he said while showing seeds in his fields.