Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Authorities today recovered Rs 50,710 worth currency, two mobile telephones with SIM cards and four memory cards from the possession of two citizens of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) when they were returning to their houses from Poonch through weekly bus service on Poonch-Rawlakote route.
Of two PoK citizens from whom the recoveries were made, one had overstayed on this side for one week.
Official sources said the authorities including police teams, Customs officials and others spotted Rs 50,710 worth currency in the possession Sain Fazal Hussain son of Mukam Din, a resident of Kotli in PoK when he was trying to crossed over to PoK from Chakan-Da-Bagh on Poonch-Rawlakote weekly bus service, which plied every Monday.
The PoK citizens were allowed to carry only Rs 15,000 worth cash during their arrival and return as per the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) between India and Pakistan. Authorities seized the excess amount from the PoK citizen and allowed him to go back home with Rs 15,000, sources said, adding that rest of the amount has been deposited with the police station.
They said Sain Fazal Hussain, who had come to meet his relatives in the border district of Poonch, was scheduled to return to PoK last Monday but had overstayed on this side for one week. He returned today. No action was taken against him for overstaying.
Police also seized a mobile telephone from the possession of Sain along with a SIM card, which has also been handed over to local police station.
Another PoK citizen Mohammad Ayub son of Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Bhimber, PoK was found in possession of one mobile telephone and four memory cards, which were seized.
Authorities handed over the mobile and memory cards to local police.
Police said though the memory cards contained some photographs and Pakistani songs, they would be sent to cyber experts to see whether they contained some hidden data.
As per the SOP between India and Pakistan, transportation of mobile telephones, memory cards and SIM cards were banned by the citizens of both parts of divided State while traveling into each other’s territory.
Meanwhile, 48 civilians today exchanged sides from Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch-Rawlakote bus service.
Three citizens from this side left for PoK to meet their divided family members and relatives while 20 returned from PoK after visiting their relatives across the LoC.
18 PoK guests reached Poonch while seven returned homes in the weekly bus, sources said.
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