As the rain of bullets stopped along the International Border, Pakistani forces seem to have undergone a sea change. Once opposed to raising the fence on the IB, Pakistan Rangers have now told BSF troops that they can carry on with the fencework without building a protection bund.‘‘After the ceasefire, there is a sea change in the attitude of the Rangers,’’ BSF Jammu Sector DIG P.K. Misra said. ‘‘Before taking up fencing work in any area along the IB, we first raise earthen bund to protect the troops and labourers,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘but now the Rangers had told them that in view of the ceasefire, the BSF was free to do the fencing work without constructing the protection bund.’’Not a single shot has been fired here since November 26 when the ceasefire came into effect. But the thousands of bullets entrenched in the bund speak of the days when the border was hot. On July 16, 2003, the Rangers had fired 3,000 shots in a day, besides shelling to disrupt fencing at Sidharwan and its adjoining areas, Misra said. ‘‘The same Rangers now talk of peace and ask us to go ahead with the fencing without raising the protection bund. It sounds good,’’ he added.‘‘In 2001, when the fencing was first taken up on the 198.5 km IB in patches, BSF’s Assistant Commandant A.K. Yadav was killed in the shelling at Maljoda post.’’ He said so far, 105 km of the IB has been fenced and the rest is likely to be completed by next year. The project is estimated to cost Rs 89.36 crore, Misra said. Apart from it, the BSF had so far built bunds along 140 km of IB, he said, adding the guard would not be lowered at any cost.
