Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: Cross-LoC travel on Poonch-Rawlakote route remained suspended for sixth consecutive week today keeping 119 civilians stranded in Poonch and Rawlakote from either side while there was no exchange of sweets and greetings between Indo-Pak troops on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day.
Official sources said the cross-LoC bus, didn’t operate on Poonch-Rawlakote route for sixth consecutive Monday as Pakistan army didn’t open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh on Zero Line from where the bus crossed over to Rawlakote from Poonch.
The bus was suspended on July 10 following heavy mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops at various places on LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri including Chakan-Da-Bagh.
For the past about six weeks now, 116 citizens of PoK are stranded in Poonch and Rajouri districts, where they had come to meet their relatives and friends while three civilians from this side have been held up in PoK.
Earlier, it had been decided that the civilians from either side would be transported through Uri-Muzaffarabad route but this has also not been done so far.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Tariq Ahmad Zargar told the Excelsior that efforts were being made to ensure return of stranded people to their homes. Hopefully, he said, the proposal would mature shortly.
Besides cross-LoC travel, trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route has also been suspended and it wouldn’t take place this week too, sources said.
While cross-LoC bus between two parts of divided State operates every Monday, the trade is done on four days a week from Tuesday to Friday.
Meanwhile, in view of frequent ceasefire violations on LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts, Indo-Pak troops didn’t exchange sweets and greetings at Chakan-Da-Bagh and other points on the LoC on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day today.
Sources said no exchange of greetings was the result of Pakistan’s unprovoked ceasefire violations at various places on LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
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