Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Jun 22:
The upcoming annual ‘mela’ (fair) at the Chamliyal border shrine along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir would not be held this year owing to frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
The epicentre of Indo-Pak bonhomie in the past, the shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, a saint popularly known as Baba Chamliyal is located in Samba district of the state and is thronged by lakhs of devotees during the three-day fair.
The mela, which was scheduled on June 28 in Ramgarh sector, was cancelled on the advice of security agencies due to the prevailing mistrust, District Development Commissioner Rajinder Singh told PTI.
On June 13, four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including an assistant commandant-rank officer, were killed and three others injured when Pakistan Rangers opened fire on the Chamliyal border outpost, taking the death toll in over 1200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan this year to 51. The dead included 25 security personnel.
Though no fresh ceasefire violation was reported along the IB and Line of Control (LoC) since June 13, Singh said the fair was cancelled as lakhs of people from across the country were expected to visit the area and their lives could not be put at risk.
We cannot put the lives of the people at stake by holding the mela,” he said.
“People are visiting the shrine on daily basis but this year, there will be no big gathering like yesteryears. No stalls will be set up and there will be no arrangements from our side, he added.
