STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Beats of ‘dholaks’ reverberated along the LoC in Poonch sector when local girls and women thronged the Army camps and tied ‘rakhis’ to soldiers on Monday.
Girls from various schools, colleges and local women braved the threat of firing from across the border and visited the Army units at Lower Krishna Ghati and Jhullas to celebrate the festival of raksha bandhan.
“This initiative to celebrate the festival of love and bonding between brothers and sisters was taken by the locals of Poonch district as a mark of solidarity and respect to the soldiers deployed far away from their families,” a senior Army officer said.
The area has seen multiple crossfires between India and Pakistan during the last two months.
“The initiative by these young girls was reciprocated by the Army with enthusiasm. During interaction with the jawans, the girls wished them health, happiness, and good luck in their missions,” the officer said.
The celebration is a true reflection of the positive mindset of the locals towards the Army, the officer said.
In a similar initiative, students, political workers and activists reached out to the jawans posted at Octerio Border outpost (BoP) on the International Border (IB) in Suchetgarh.
“We have come to tie rakhis to our brothers, who protect us round-the-clock, but are miles away from their families,” said Sushma Sharma, a student of Dogra Public school.
Nishita, a student of Sun Shrine Public School, said she wanted to ensure that the jawans feel that the entire country is with them and we too are their family.
“In a great gesture of solidarity with our soldiers, girl students and sisters from across India have sent thousands of handmade rakhis for the soldiers in Leh and Siachen,” an Army spokesperson said.
