Amritsar, May 7 -- Even as farmers are yet to finish post-harvesting works in their fields situated in the sensitive zone between the border fence and the zero line, the BSF has closed the entry gates for them. Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack last week, the BSF had around 10 days ago issued an urgent directive to farmers along the India-Pakistan border to complete harvesting of wheat and clear their fields within 48 hours. It was a unique challenge for Punjab's border farmers who cultivate approximately 45,000 acres across the 530-km international boundary. Though the BSF allowed the farmers to work for more days, the gates were closed on Sunday. "The rainfall witnessed in the past few days delayed the post-harvesting work. Secondly, the farmers are to prepare the fields for paddy sowing. The farmers need one week more to finish the work. The farmers will get full power supply on June 3. A period of less than a month is left for it," said Rattan Singh Randhawa, a leader of border farmers in Amritsar. "The gates should be opened. People of the border belt are repeatedly telling the BSF that they will fully cooperate and support them in case any war-like situation arises. So, they should be allowed to work in their fields until a grim situation arises," he added. Another farmer, Surjit Singh Bhoora, said, "Apart from making cattle feed from the wheat straw, levelling the fields ahead of paddy season is pending." "Whenever tension escalates along the border, farmers whose land is situated beyond the barbed fence and other border people become the worst sufferers," he added. Sources said the gates were closed keeping in view the arrest of a Pakistan Ranger by the BSF at the Rajasthan border on Sunday. A few days before that, Rangers had caught a BSF man in Ferozepur district. A BSF official, requesting anonymity, said the gates have been closed in view of the farmers' security....