SRINAGAR, Nov 14:
Only two people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) arrived here, while eight Kashmiris crossed over to the other side of Line of Control (LoC) by Karwan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.
Meanwhile, 12 people also returned to their respective sides at Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector.
Official sources here this evening said two PoK residents, including a woman, arrived at Kaman post after crossing Aman Setu, peace bridge, on foot to meet their relatives, separated in 1947 due to partition.
They said eight Kashmiris, including two women and as many children, who had gone to the PoK, returned to Srinagar after completing their stay there.
Meanwhile, eight Kashmiris crossed to the other side of LoC, to meet their relatives. Sources said that four PoK residents, including a woman and a child, who had come to Srinagar earlier, also returned to their homes.
”The bus had left Srinagar at 0700 hrs this morning to avoid any protests and stone pelting,” they said. The bus service was not affected this time, despite tense situation on the LoC, where two soldiers were killed and several others were injured, when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and targeted forward posts and civilian targets in Macchil and Keran sectors, during the past four days.
Despite unrest since July 9, the bus run continued. On July 11 and 18, the bus could not operate for security reasons, following a strike by separatists while on July 4 and September 12, it did not run, in view of Eid festivals.
However, the weekly bus service was not affected, even after the Fidayeen attack on Army Brigade Headquarters at Uri on September 18, which left 19 soldiers dead and over 20 wounded. Four Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) militants, believed to be foreigners, were also killed in the encounter. The Fidayeen attack was followed by surgical attack by Indian troops across the LoC.
On October 17, the bus could not operate due to tense situation on the LoC while on October 24, it was suspended due to some political activity in the PoK. The bus service has helped thousands of families divided due to Partition in 1947 to meet each other after India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of State subjects from both sides on travel permits, instead of international passport.
The bus service, introduced on April 7, 2005, has helped thousands of families divided in 1947, to meet each other through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road after India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of state subjects from both sides on Travel Permits, instead of International passport, despite opposition by militant organisations. (UNI)
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