Construction buzz breaks ceasefire hush

Two years ago, Bihari Lal of Suchetgarh, after being hit by a Pakistani bullet, had packed his bags to leave for safer places. A few days ago, he sold some of his agricultural land to construct a big house next to the zero line. 8216;8216;There is a bund along the fencing that will prevent bullets from reaching us,8217;8217; he says.

Waryam Chand, who also had a narrow escape a year ago, is busy telling the carpenter to design a window of the latest style. Months ago, to escape bullets, he and many others living along the border, had covered their windows with cement bags as a preventive measure. Even the dead couldn8217;t rest in peace. Thanks to the incessant firing, the Suchetgarh cremation ground had to be moved to the backyards of the locality. But now, it has come up in an open field.

Major Avneet Singh of 8 JAK Rifles says the height of the bund raised for border fencing is enough to change the trajectory of small fire. 8216;8216;Bullets, if fired, will go over the rooftops rather than hitting the structures,8217;8217; he says.