Punjab Govt asks DCs to ensure return of border residents

Punjab government today directed deputy commissioners of districts bordering Pakistan to ensure "smooth" return of people who were evacuated from their villages after the surgical strikes in PoK.
The decision was taken after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a meeting today at Jaisalmer reviewed the security situation with home ministers and senior officials of four states that border Pakistan.
"The Centre had recently asked residents in districts that border Pakistan, including Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar, to move back by about 10 km after the surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK," an official release said.
"Deputy Chief Minister Sukbhir Singh Badal, who was at the meeting, informed Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal about the decision," it said.

"The CS asked DCs of all the districts concerned to take immediate steps to ensure smooth return of the affected people back to their villages," it added.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh welcomed the government's decision saying it only vindicates his stand on the issue.

"It was not required in the first place. The evacuations had been ordered by the Akali (SAD)-BJP alliance to create war hysteria for their political interests," he alleged, adding the decision boomeranged and they eventually withdrew it.
"While their bluff has been called, who will compensate villagers for losses and the harassment they faced after they were forced out of their homes. They homeless for all these days without any rhyme or reason," he said, demanding compensation for villagers.

Although the government has withdrawn the orders, Amarinder will still tour villages on the Indo-Pak border and will spend a few days in some of them from October 10.