India extends fencing of western border

NEW DELHI, May 28 (UPI) -- India is fencing its western border with Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir state to cover more areas under surveillance.

The Border Security Force, which mans the India-Pakistan border, has started work on the project, following a direction from the federal government, said a BSF official.

The fence, which was earlier closer to the zero line, was retreated in the wake of regular cross-border firing during the previous regime. Since things once again have returned to normal, India has decided to take the fence to its original place, the official said.

The Interior Ministry had made the decision almost five months ago. This also means that the farmers who had lost their land (since the fence was pulled back, cultivable land went to the other side) will get back their farming area.

J.B. Sangwan, the deputy inspector general of the BSF for Jammu, said the fence will be taken closer to the zero line, but how close will be decided by the federal government. He said that will depend from area to area, as the line is not straight, but is jiggered along the 118-mile international border.