However, displacement compounded by official apathy is not new for Jammuites. Leaving their homes is a recurring feature every time tension heightens on the border. Of course, it doesn't lessen their ordeal. Says Beli Ram of village Samu, who has taken refuge in a two-room middle school at village Narayana: ``This is the nth time we have had to move out of our houses, leaving our valuables and cattle at the mercy of God. It seems there will be no end to this sadstory. Shells have been pounding our village even when there is a cricket match between the two countries.'' Adds S K Mishra, deputy inspector general, Jammu: ``There has been one confirmed death due to shelling in Akhnoor.'' Beli Ram is among the `privileged' 6,000-7,000 people who have taken refuge in 28-odd camps, mostly in school buildings, which are vacant at present due to summer holidays. And nobody wants to imagine what will happen when the schools reopen in a fortnight. The rest have had to fend for themselves--with their relatives or friends. Some well-to-do families have taken rooms on rent in presumably safer areas.

Ironically, most of these villagers, especially those who come from hamlets like Samu, Chaprial, Karchial, Sainth, Tilri and Ghadyal, return to their villages in the mornings to tend to their cattle and see if their houses and fields are all right. As shelling starts picking up in the evening, they hurry back to their places of refuge.

``How can we leave the house and fieldsaltogether?'' asks Santosh, a middle aged housewife in Chaprial, the last Indian village in Jourian of Akhnoor sector. She still comes back every day from Narayana school, braving incessant shelling from across the border to see if her two buffaloes are safe. She has been lucky so far. Thoru Ram, a retired education officer from village Gharana, has not. He has lost five of his livestock in the last one and a half months due to Pakistani firing.

People haven't lost their livestock and properties to only Pakistani shelling. Panic has been a bigger predator. Fearing that an open war is going to break out any minute, many farmers have sold their export-quality Basmati produce at throwaway prices.

Their loss has been accentuated by the indifference shown by the state government. Ration, medicines, tents and other basic necessities are yet to be provided. Argues B S Jaswal, divisional commissioner, Jammu: ``The question of providing relief doesn't arise since people have migrated on their own. Only thosepeople who are living within 1-2 kms of the LOC are affected. The rest have migrated due to fear psychosis.''

Adds S S Salathia, sheep and animal husbandry minister, one of the ministers asked by the chief minister to take stock of the situation: ``No decision has been taken yet on providing relief to the displaced people. We are awaiting the response of the Central government on the issue.''

But the BJP parliamentarian from Jammu, C L Gupta, is not convinced. He emphasises, ``The home minister has announced that it's the responsibility of the state government to provide relief to the affected people. On his part, he has promised that the Centre will make the reimbursement. The state government has to take the initiative.''

While the debate rages on, some NGOs have got into action. They are distributing food packets in some of the camps. But that is not enough because the number of displaced people is swelling by the day. From dawn to dusk, trolleys, trucks and mules are lining up on the Akhnoor-Jammuroad, carrying loads of household goods, beds and utensils. With the shadow of war looming large, the queues are bound to only lengthen.