The BSF and the Pakistani Rangers today paid obeisance together at the shrine of Baba Sain Sawali, on the zero line here, which was thrown open to devotees after a period of 17 years.While the last mela was held here in 1987, the Pakistani devotees didn’t come after the 1965 as they were stopped from crossing the International Border.Today, beating of drums broke the calm on the zero line, with BSF personnel and Rangers watching as villagers from the Indian side visiting the shrine. In the afternoon, they were joined by some Pakistani Rangers who crossed the border unfurling a white flag. Led by their commander Rafiq, the Rangers came near the shrine and offered prayers under a tree. They took prasad and returned to their side.Before returning, Rafiq said: ‘‘Let peace prevail between the two countries. There is enthusiasm among people on our side about the Indo-Pak cricket series.’’Earlier, BSF officials said they had informed the Rangers about the mela at the shrine and even invited them to participate in it. ‘‘We used to organise a mela at the shrine prior to 1947. Then it was stopped after the 1965 war but we re-started it in 1970,’’ said 60-year-old Chowdhary Chaman Lal of village Leyin. ‘‘We visited the shrine till 1987 and Pakistanis offered prayers from their side of the border,’’ he added. Interestingly, no one could tell the history of the Baba Sain Swali except that they had been visiting the shrine since childhood. Today’s mela, for many, was also an occasion to see Pakistani towns like Chapral and Patwal as these can be seen from where the shrine’s located.
