Armed locals patrol GSZ village

Residents of the Serb village of Rasevac have organized armed patrols in the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ) after sporadic gunfire was heard from Kosovo. The zone is located in the south, next to the administrative line between central Serbia and Kosovo. Armed locals patrol GSZ village The villagers also said that their homes were one by one, put under strong spot lights coming from across the line, "which has never happened before". Gun shots were heard after sundown, coming from Kosovo, and then each house had bright lights shined on it from the direction of Kosovo. The residents informed police, who advised them not to fire back. Afraid and nervous, the locals armed themselves and organized patrols of the village at night. “No one from the police or military came, so we have to take rifles ourselves and stand guard,” a local told B92. They also packed up all their necessities for fleeing their homes if need be. The first official to react to the reports of the villagers was Kursumlija Deputy Municipal President Dejan Milosevic. Residents decided not to leave the village after meeting with Milosevic. “They wanted to leave, but I told them that we will make sure that the situation will be stable,” Milosevic told B92. Over the last ten years, four villages located on the administrative line with Kosovo have emptied out because of the lack of safety and security in the region. Rasevac is located some 300 meters from the administrative boundary and has a total of 15 residents. Locals said that they would continue to organized night patrols if necessary.

Armed locals patrol GSZ village

The villagers also said that their homes were one by one, put under strong spot lights coming from across the line, "which has never happened before".

Gun shots were heard after sundown, coming from Kosovo, and then each house had bright lights shined on it from the direction of Kosovo.

The residents informed police, who advised them not to fire back.

Afraid and nervous, the locals armed themselves and organized patrols of the village at night.

“No one from the police or military came, so we have to take rifles ourselves and stand guard,” a local told B92.

They also packed up all their necessities for fleeing their homes if need be.

The first official to react to the reports of the villagers was Kuršumlija Deputy Municipal President Dejan Milošević. Residents decided not to leave the village after meeting with Milošević.

“They wanted to leave, but I told them that we will make sure that the situation will be stable,” Milošević told B92.

Over the last ten years, four villages located on the administrative line with Kosovo have emptied out because of the lack of safety and security in the region.

Raševac is located some 300 meters from the administrative boundary and has a total of 15 residents.

Locals said that they would continue to organized night patrols if necessary.