This Article is From Jul 27, 2017

Stuck For A Month, 48 Passengers From Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Protest

The LoC bus service was started in 2006 to enable the divided families of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to reconnect.

Arrangements are being worked out to send stranded passengers from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir home.

Srinagar: 48 people from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir have been stuck in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch for over a month ever since the cross-Line of Control bus service was unilaterally suspended by Islamabad following massive ceasefire violations by Pakistan. 

And the PoK residents are now protesting. 75-year-old Mohammad Ayub, a heart patient, has an appointment fixed with his doctor in Rawalpindi and desperately wants to go home.

"We came to Jammu and Kashmir on the 19th of June. It has been more than a month, I am a heart patient and am very worried, my family back home is worried as well," said Mr Ayub.

The last one month has seen frequent ceasefire violations in the border belts of Jammu and Kashmir. Nine soldiers are two civilians have been killed and 16 others injured in Pakistani firing this month.

The LoC bus service was started in 2006 to enable the divided families of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to reconnect.

Cross-Line of Control trade and travel, both twice a week, are considered a major confidence building measures between India and Pakistan.

Alternate arrangements are now being worked out to send the stranded passengers from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir home.

"These people are very worried, their children are on the other side, there are some children whose exams are on, our effort is to send them through the second crossing point from Uri if it is not possible to send them from here," said Irshad Hussain, in charge LoC Trade/Travel.
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