Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Feb 9: The suspension of cross LoC bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad (PoK), had no impact on the Poonch-Rawlakote bus operation, as 43 passengers from both sides today exchanged sides.
An official spokesman said that a total 43 passengers from India and PoK today exchanged sides at Chakkan-da-Bagh cross LoC point in Poonch.
“Out of the total 43, 14 people boarded the bus from Poonch to go to PoK. Of these, 10 were residents of PoK and returning after meeting their relatives here while four Indian nationals have gone that side of the Line of Control (LoC),” he said.
It is said that a few of them who were supposed to return next week, also went back a bit earlier, apprehending stoppage of bus service like Uri-Muzaffarabad.
The spokesman further disclosed that 29 people from PoK side boarded the bus to reach this side of the J&K. “Out of the 29 who came to India, 23 were from PoK while six others returned to Indian side after visiting their relatives in PoK,” he added.
Authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) announced suspension of Karvan-e-Aman bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad indefinitely after India arrested a truck driver from PoK for allegedly smuggling narcotics into the Indian side.
The decision was taken after authorities in PoK conveyed their decision to suspend travel and trade along Srinagar- Muzaffarabad road till the issue regarding the arrest of their driver was resolved.
It may be recalled that one Anayat Hussain, resident of Muzaffarabad, was arrested following recovery of the narcotics substance from his vehicle on Friday.
A local trader Zahoor Ahmad Malla, who was to allegedly receive the consignment, has also been taken into custody.
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