14 PoK guests among 67 travel in peace bus, service resumes after two weeks

The cross-Line of Control (LoC) weekly bus service has resumed after remaining suspended for two consecutive weeks, official sources said.

Last week the peace bus could not operate due to tense situation on the Line of Control (LoC), while on October 24 it was suspended due to ‘Youm-e-Tahsees (Pakistan celebrates October 24 as establishment of PoK, every year)’ in PoK.

The passengers who were scheduled to travel in the cross-LoC bus during the past two weeks, when the run was suspended, have been accommodated in the bus.

They said 14 fresh PoK guests arrived at Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector after crossing the Aman Setu, peace bridge.

They included four women and as many children. Sources said 18 Kashmiris, including six women, who had gone to PoK also returned in the bus. They said 22 Kashmiris, including six women and a child crossed over to other side of the LoC to meet their relatives, separated in 1947 due to partition.

Sources said 13 PoK residents also returned to their homes after completing stay in Kashmir. They included seven women and a child. Despite unrest since July 9 in Kashmir Valley, where 86 people were killed and several thousand others injured in security force and police action, since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) ‘commander’ Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag, the bus continued to run, barring on July 11 and 18.

The bus service on these days was suspended, for security reasons following strike by the separatists, while on July 4 and September 12, 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 in PoK. However, Pakistan has denied any such strike and claimed that two of their soldiers were killed in cross border shelling.

For security reasons the bus from Srinagar to Kaman Post, is now leaving early in the morning, to avoid any violence on way, in view of the strike. Similarly, people coming from PoK have to wait at Uri before starting journey towards their respective destinations late in the night, to avoid stone pelting.

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.

However, people are allowed to travel only after their names are cleared from intelligence agencies from both the sides in the bus, a major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) introduced on April 7, 2005 by India and Pakistan, will not operate, much to the disappointment of passengers, who were scheduled to travel to meet their relatives, separated in 1947.