Poonch- Rawlakote bus suspended, 119 stranded
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, July 24: After arrest of a Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) truck driver by Police from Salamabad in Uri last week, the trans-Line of Control (LoC) trade has been suspended while weekly bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad operated normally today, however, it remained suspended for third consecutive week on Poonch-Rawlakote route.
The authorities have suspended trade for a week following protests in PoK against the arrest of the truck driver Mohammad Yusuf Shah by Jammu and Kashmir Police. The PoK traders today met under the chairmanship of Gazi Shahid and decided to suspend the trade for the time being till the matter is resolved.
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The meeting was held after the trans-LoC drivers of the PoK decided not to ply between Chakoti and Salamabad in protest against the arrest of truck driver. They said that the truck drivers are innocent as they have no knowledge about the contents of the goods that they are carrying and they become the victims. They have threatened to burn the trucks in PoK if the driver is not released.
In the meantime, police have detained Rafiq Ahmad of Boniyar, who was the point man for the Kaloo traders from whose consignment 65.5 kg of heroin was seized on Friday. They have also detained Rayees Masoodi, brother of Tajamul in whose name the consignment was besides they are questioning the Kaloo traders as well.
In the meantime, the weekly bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad plied normally today. Eighty two passengers travelled in the bus from both the sides including 26 from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad with 9 males, 10 females and 7 children on board and 56 travelled from Muzaffarabad to Srinagar with 53 fresh travelers including 26 males, 17 females and 10 children.
Meanwhile, 116 citizens of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have been stranded in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri while three civilians from this side were held up in PoK as cross-LoC bus didn’t operate for third consecutive week today following escalated tensions between India and Pakistan in view of shelling on the Line of Control (LoC).
Cross-LoC bus services, which operates every Monday on Poonch-Rawlakote route, connecting people of two parts of the divided States including J&K and PoK, didn’t move for this consecutive week today, leaving 116 citizens of PoK stranded in Poonch and Rajouri districts besides some other parts of the regions. Similarly, three civilians from Poonch and Rajouri, who had gone to PoK, were stranded at Rawlakote.
Official sources said 116 PoK citizens reached Poonch Parade Ground this morning hoping the cross-LoC bus to resume but it didn’t happen. Sources added that PoK authorities and Pakistan army didn’t follow the process required to open the gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh, leading to suspension of the bus, once again.
As the PoK citizens got the report, they held massive demonstration against Pakistan Government and PoK authorities were not taking their care and keeping them stranded for past three weeks without enough cash in hand and other facilities.
They were demanding their immediate return to their home towns in PoK.
Sources said three citizens of Jammu have also been stranded in Rawlakote due to suspension of the bus service.
Meanwhile, the district administration in Poonch pacified the PoK citizens with the assurance that their issue was being taken up at the highest level and a decision on their return to their homes would be taken shortly.
Authorities were pursuing the matter with the Government for return of PoK citizens, most of whom have already exhausted their limit of stay to this side.
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