Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 26: While the border villagers in Poonch, who are under the grip of firing from across and facing shortage of other amenities, today stopped the Poonch-Rawlakot bus for over an hour and held protest demonstration, whereas, 60 fresh PoK guests arrived here via Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh cross LoC points.
Not even single J&K resident boarded the Poonch-Rawlakote bus while just two Kashmiris left for Muzaffarabad in PoK from Srinagar via Uri. Nine J&K visitors, who were held up there in PoK after suspension of bus-service between the two sides also returned in today’s bus to Poonch.
Reports said when 31 PoK residents were returning in the bus from Poonch to Rawlakote via Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point, villagers from Kahri Karmara stopped the bus and started protest demonstration at around 10.30 am. They raised barricades on the road.The villagers alleged that there was fear among the villagers due to the prevailing situation. Moreover, they were facing water and power crisis. The condition of the road was also worst. The Government was least bothered about the sufferings of the border people.
Some district officers including a DySP were also accompanying the bus. Despite repeated request by the PoK visitors, they did not allow the bus to move towards LoC point. Later, with persuasion of officers, the bus and other vehicles were allowed to move at around 12.00 noon.
A senior officer in the District Administration when contacted said that people of this border belt had their own local issues related to shortage of power and water besides pitiable condition of a link road. They were pressing for their issues and protesting on the road. However, they were assured that their issues will be looked into. It is pertinent to mention here that on last Monday also, the bus was stopped for about 15-20 minutes by these villagers near Chakkan-da-Bagh.
Meanwhile, a total 80 persons crossed sides at the Chakkan-da-Bagh cross LoC point. 40 fresh PoK residents arrived here besides nine Indian returnees. 31 PoK residents returned to their homes after their stay here. Some of them had been held up here. Not even single a J&K resident crossed over to PoK via this LoC point today.
Twenty fresh guests from PoK arrived here while only two crossed over to other side of the Line of Control (LoC) at Kaman post, in Uri sector this afternoon. As many as 41 returnees also crossed sides.
An official spokesman said 20 PoK guests, including seven women and two children, arrived at Kaman post after crossing the Aman Setu, peace bridge on foot in Uri sector in north Kashmir.
Two Kashmiri residents, who had gone to PoK, also returned to their homes after completing stay with their relatives, separated in 1947.
They said only two Kashmiris crossed over to other side of the LoC.
However, 39 PoK residents, who had come here in previous Karvan-e Aman buses, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, returned to their homes after completing stay here.
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