Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 2: At least 62 civilians today exchanged sides in a weekly Poonch-Rawlakote ‘Peace Bus’ via Chakkan-da-Bagh on Line of Control in Poonch district.
“Sixty two civilians this afternoon exchanged sides in a weekly bus,” an official here said. He said from this side fresh single Indian citizen and 17 PoK residents boarded the bus and went across.
“From across the border, fresh 40 PoK residents reached Poonch to meet there divided families while four Indian citizens returned home after completing their stipulated stay across,” he asserted.
The gate was opened at 1355 hrs and closed at 1405 hrs while senior police and administrative officials were present at the venue.
Meanwhile, as many as 37 residents of PoK arrived in Srinagar while 16 Kashmiris crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.
Meanwhile, 49 returnees also crossed sides at Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector.
Official sources here today said 37 PoK residents, including 12 women and eight children arrived at Kaman post after crossing Aman Setu, peace bridge, on foot to meet their relatives, separated in 1947 due to partition.
They said 12 Kashmiri, who had gone to PoK returned to Srinagar after completing stay there. They included two women and two children.
Meanwhile, 16 Kashmiri, including four women, crossed to the other side of the LoC to meet their relatives, sources said.
As many as 37 PoK residents, including 19 women and 5 children, who had come to Srinagar in previous bus also returned to their homes, they added.
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