Village on LoC cheers up after Article 370 scrapped

A small village on the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir has a big reason to celebrate. The 2,000 residents of Machhal have borne the brunt of numerous cross-border attacks and ceasefire violations erupting from neighbouring Pakistan since Independence.

They also live under the threat of infiltration by terrorists from across the border but have been firm in their resolve to not give in to any anti-national forces. Their situation was made bleaker by the absence of electricity and communication lines in the village.

Now the abrogation of Article 370 has given them a reason to look forward to the future with hope. "Our school has reopened after a very long time and all of us are ecstatic," said children, who were seen drawing the Tricolour and singing patriotic songs. "Everything in the region will finally change," said a resident, adding he had a newfound respect for the government. "We had nothing until now but since Article 370 has been scrapped, we can look at the future with optimism."

Ray Of Hope

• Perched precariously on the India-Pak border, the 2000 residents of Machhal village have borne the brunt of cross-border attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan since Independence.

—Zee Media Newsroom