Despite unrest in Valley, 15 PoK guests arrive, no Kashmiri cross to other side

SRINAGAR : Despite unrest in the Kashmir valley, 15 fresh guests from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) arrived here while no resident from this side crossed over to other side of Line of Control (LoC), official sources said here today.
As many as 18 returnees crossed sides at the Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri after completing stay with their relatives, separated in 1947 due to partition, sources said.
They said 15 residents of PoK, including six women and two children, arrived at Kaman post after crossing the Aman Setu, peace bridge on foot yesterday in the afternoon.
A Kashmiri, who had gone to other side of the LoC, also returned after completing stay in PoK.
However, due to protests, stone pelting and strike during the day, the guests and a returnee had to stay at Salamabad, Uri for security reasons till late in the night before starting journey to Srinagar, they said, adding that the Karvan-e-Aman bus, carrying the passengers crossed the Baramulla at 2330 hrs.
Sources said no Kashmiri crossed over to PoK while 17 PoK residents returned to their homes after completing stay here. They included eight women and two children.
The bus with only six passengers left Srinagar at about 0530 hrs early yesterday for security reasons to avoid any demonstrations or stone pelting on way, they said, adding that the bus has safely reached Kaman post at about 0900 hrs. Later, eleven more PoK residents boarded the bus at Kaman post.
The bus service was suspended on July 4 because of Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
However, the cross-LoC bus was suspended on July 11 and 18 for security reasons following massive protests after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants in an encounter in Anantnag.
Later, it was decided to ply bus service early in the morning from here and late in the night from Kaman post to avoid any violence.
The bus service, introduced on April 7, 2005, 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 sides. (AGENCIES)

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